Indian Football Team Rival Watch: Bangladesh

Indian Football Team have only lost once to the Bengal Tigers in their head-to-head encounters.

The Indian football team are set to begin their AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers on March 25, when they host the Bangladesh football team at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong. The game will be a huge litmus test for the Blue Tigers as they aspire to participate in the continental tournament in Saudi Arabia.

Head coach Manolo Marquez will closely monitor his new call-ups to the squad as they look to make the perfect start to their qualifying campaign. The arrival of Hamza Choudhury to the Bangladesh national team and the return of Sunil Chhetri will be the headline-grabbing news ahead of the game. With a place at the AFC Asian Cup at stake, the Blue Tigers need to be in the game from the first whistle if they stand any chance of beating the Bengal Tigers.

The Bangladesh team has some promising players on their roster and is coming off two wins in their last four games. Here are some things that you need to know about the Bengal Tigers before this upcoming AFC Asian Cup qualifying clash.

About the Team

Bangladesh football has been a FIFA-recognised international team for over 48 years. The Bengal Tigers started playing on the international stage in 1973, when they drew 2-2 against Thailand in the 1973 Merdeka Cup. The Bengal Tigers have had several ups and downs in their nearly five-decade history.

Even though the Bangladesh football team did not achieve much success in their first few years, they slowly created a reputation for themselves with their silver-medal performance in the South Asian Games in 1984. They won their first goal medal at the South Asian Games in 1999 and their first notable tournament, the 2003 SAFF Championship. The Bengal Tigers defeated India in the semi-finals before beating the Maldives in a nervy penalty shootout to clinch their first and only SAFF Championship.

ALSO READ: India vs Maldives Live Updates: Manolo Marquez eyes win in crucial international friendly

After that, Bangladesh could never recapture the heights of their success in the SAFF (South Asian Football Federation) Championship. They finished as the runners-up in the 2005 edition, faltering in the final to India, who won their fourth title. Goals from Mehrajuddin Wadoo and Bhaichung Bhutia on either side of the half-time ensured victory for the Blue Tigers. In fact, from 2005-2023, Bangladesh would manage only at least one more semi-final appearance in the SAFF Championship.

They are only one of two Asian teams (the other team being India) to have qualified for an AFC Asian Cup edition. They have failed to break into the top 100 of the FIFA World Rankings, with their highest-ever place being 110 (April 1996).

Recent Performances

The Bangladesh football team played eight international matches in the calendar year of 2024. They were unsuccessful during their World Cup Qualification campaign, losing all four games. However, they managed to win two of their next four international friendly games to end the year on better terms.

One of their wins in 2024 came against Bhutan in a close 1-0 game. It happened during the September international window, with both friendlies hosted at the Changlimithang Stadium. The game saw the Bengal Tigers securing a narrow victory courtesy of Sheikh Morsalin.

Their second win came over the Maldives, as the home side won 2-1 in a close game. Goals from Mojibur Rahman Jony (43′) and Papon Singh (90+2′) were enough to cancel out Ali Fasir’s (23′) opener for the island nation.

The Coach

The Bangladesh national team has stuck for a third consecutive year with experienced coach Javier Cabrera after he took over in 2022 after the departure of Portuguese head coach Mario Lemos. Cabrera has been involved with the Bangladesh football scene for 29 games, having a relatively uneventful stint overseeing their World Cup Qualification elimination and disappointing SAFF Championship campaign.

The Spaniard will be keen to get a big scalp of the Blue Tigers. Starting his career with Sporting Club de Goa, Cabrera has a big job with the arrival of former Premier League midfielder Hamza Choudhury. The former FA Cup-winning midfielder will be a welcome addition to the Bengal Tigers, who will be gunning to return to the AFC Asian Cup after 45 years.

Under him, the Bengal Tigers have gotten used to his 4-3-3 system. The system allows his side to control the midfield and initiate transitions from defence to attack through the wings.

Players to Watch

Hamza Choudhury

The Sheffield United midfielder has switched his national allegiance to the Bangladesh national football team from England. His decision comes ahead of the nation’s AFC Asian Cup qualifier against India on March 25, 2025. The 27-year-old, who qualifies for Bangladesh because of his mother, previously represented England at the under-21 level.

However, his arrival and celebratory welcome from the adoring fans of the Bengal Tigers will fire up the former FA Cup-winning midfielder ahead of the upcoming encounter. Choudhury representing Bangladesh will be a significant boost for the national team, currently ranked 185th in the FIFA World Rankings.

Rakib Hossain

The Bashundhara Kings attacker is going to be a pivotal player in Bangladesh’s upcoming AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier against India. Born in Noakhali, Hossain has showcased exceptional form in the Bangladesh Premier League this season. The 26-year-old has scored five goals and provided two assists in nine games for the club this season.

With his agility and versatility allowing him to operate effectively across the front line, Cabrera can be deployed as a left winger or a center-forward in his system. The Bengal Tigers will be banking on his ability to penetrate defenses and create scoring opportunities against India.

What to Expect

Even though the Bangladesh football team only played eight games in 2024, they have showed some promising signs of how they might play under Cabrera. The Blue Tigers can probably expect to face a side who will be happy for them to dominate the possession.

While India will, of course, present a tough challenge having only won once against them, the Bengal Tigers will be motivated by the new faces. A win for any of the two sides will be significant in their aspirations of playing in the continental tournament in Saudi Arabia.

The game is expected to be far from a walk in the park for India, who have to be wary of the emotional bounce with the arrival of a bonafide star for the Bengal Tigers.

For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram.