Look back at India's performance under Khalid Jamil so far
Jamil took over the charge as head coach in August 2025
Khalid Jamil’s tenure at the helm of the Indian national football team has been a rollercoaster ride, marked by moments of promise, resilience, and frustration.
When the Indian head coach took over the charge in August 2025, there was immense pressure along with optimism. A proven face in Indian football, Jamil was the orchestrator behind Aizawl FC’s I-League triumph and played a crucial role in NorthEast United FC’s and Jamshedpur FC’s resurgence in a short time in ISL.
However, his tenure as the national team head coach has shown little evidence of significant progress, with many of the same challenges continuing to persist.
A positive start to a new era
The Indian football team began the Khalid Jamil era with a resounding victory against Tajikistan. The Blue Tigers were going through turmoil with a poor stretch of runs under the former head coach, Manolo Marquez. Jamil’s appointment instilled a rejuvenated fighting spirit and resilient character in the squad as they were adjudged the third-place finishers in the CAFA Nations Cup 2025.
First-half goals from Anwar Ali and Sandesh Jhingan powered India to secure a 2-1 victory against Tajikistan in the opening fixture. However, the Blue Tigers suffered a 0-3 defeat against Iran in the following game and shared points with Afghanistan in the final group-stage fixture.
India played against Oman in the third-place playoff fixture. Jamil’s men edged out the Oman side on penalties to win the bronze medal after the regulation time ended on a 1-1 scoreline.
The struggle begins
Since Armando Colaco’s and Savio Medeira’s times back in 2011-12, Khalid Jamil has become the only Indian head coach to lead the Blue Tigers.
After a third-place finish in the CAFA Nations Cup 2025, the target was shifted to the AFC Asian Cup qualification group-stage fixtures.
The Blue Tigers were held to a 1-1 draw against Singapore in the third group-stage fixture. However, they succumbed to a 1-2 defeat in the next match against the same opponent on home soil, eventually eliminating India from the qualification scenario.
Jamil’s men suffered a shocking defeat against Bangladesh while registering a 2-1 victory over Hong Kong to wrap up the qualification journey.
India’s struggle hit a new low in its next venture, the Unity Cup. The Blue Tigers went down fighting against Jamaica in the group-stage fixture and registered a narrow 0-1 defeat against Zimbabwe in the third-place playoff match.
In their recent friendlies against Tajikistan in Hisor, India’s performance has not been satisfactory. Defensive instability and a lack of confidence in the opposition’s third proved costly, leading to Jamil’s men losing 3-1 in the opening clash and playing to a 1-1 draw in the second outing.
Khalid Jamil’s tenure in numbers
Arguably, Jamil’s impact can’t be measured solely through statistics. However, the game remains a result-driven business.
Jamil’s tenure has been inconsistent, with a win percentage of only 16.66 and an average of 0.833 points per match. Here’s a breakdown of India’s performance under Khalid Jamil.
Matches played: 12
Win: 2
Loss: 6
Draw: 4
Win percentage: 16.66%
Points per match: 0.833
Loss against lower-ranked teams: 2
Loss against higher-ranked teams: 4
Win against lower-ranked teams: 1
Win against higher-ranked teams: 1
When did Khalid Jamil take charge as India head coach?
Khalid Jamil took charge as India head coach in August 2025.
How many matches have India won under Jamil?
India have won two of their 12 matches under Jamil.
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Shibashis is a sports journalist with over three years of experience covering Indian football. His work spans reporting, writing, and editing, with a strong focus on telling stories from across the Indian football landscape. Passionate about both Indian and European football, he continues to build his career by combining sharp reporting with a deep love for the game.