Top three players who can help improve Indian football team's performance under Manolo Marquez

The Indian football team will be relying on new faces to get them up the FIFA Rankings in 2025!

Manolo Marquez’s Indian football team are gearing up for the calendar year as they are set to begin their AFC Asian Cup – round 3 qualifiers in a few days. However, before the qualifiers, the Blue Tigers are scheduled to play against Maldives in a friendly game.

Quite a few youngsters have been brought into the Indian football team squad by head coach courtesy of their performances in the Indian Super League 2024-25 season. Here are three special individuals who could help the Indian football team improve and take them up the FIFA Rankings in 2025!

Vishal Kaith

Manolo Marquez didn’t select Gurpreet Singh Sandhu in his squad for the Indian football team’s games for March. Hence this gives Vishal Kaith a golden opportunity to stake his claim as India’s starting goalkeeper in the upcoming qualifiers and beyond.

The Mohun Bagan goalkeeper is coming into the Indian side at the back of a record-breaking Indian Super League season. The 28-year-old kept 14 clean sheets in 23 league games, conceding just 16 goals with a save percentage of 80.7%.

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu came under the lens after making quite a few mistakes in goal over the last year. Vishal Kaith on the other hand has won the vote of confidence from the fans over the past few months.

Vishal has made four appearances for the Indian football team during the 2018 SAFF Championship. Having made quite a few outstanding saves in the league, it has to be seen if the goalkeeper can replicate his feat for the national team in the upcoming games.

Irfan Yadwad

The Chennaiyin FC forward had a breakout 2024-25 ISL season and this has not gone unnoticed by Manolo Marquez. Owing to this, Irfan Yadwad was also given his Indian football team debut against Malaysia last November.

Irfan played as a winger under Owen Coyle, starting all 24 league games for Chennaiyin FC. In this, the 23-year-old scored 5 goals and gave 4 assists to his teammates, ending the season as arguably the club’s best player alongside Connor Shields.

Aside from scoring goals and providing assists, Irfan Yadwad’s work rate sets him apart from the competition. The youngster was seen running up and down the wing throughout the season for Chennaiyin FC and to add to this, he is also physical and is one of the fastest players on the pitch.

Irfan Yadwad could be the long-term heir to Sunil Chhetri’s throne in the Indian football team. However, we have seen quite a few young names rise and burn almost instantly once they have reached the national team. It has to be seen how the young Goan performs in the upcoming games.

Brison Fernandes

Manolo Marquez claimed last year that Brison Fernandes was the best Indian player that he had trained in his four seasons in the ISL. While quite a few people questioned the FC Goa and Indian national team coach’s statement, Manolo clearly saw what we all missed.

Brison Fernandes has become a household name in his state after his exceptional performance with FC Goa. In 22 ISL games, the 23-year-old scored 7 goals and provided 2 assists. The Goan was the second-highest Indian scorer in the league, behind Sunil Chhetri. .

The FC player’s game is not just about goals, but he also adds flair to the team and also tracks back to help the wingbacks. Owing to his breakout season, it was an easy decision for Manolo Marquez to include Brison Fernandes in the Indian squad.

The leftwinger has played under Manolo for two seasons now, at FC Goa. Hence it would be easy for him to make the transition to the Indian football team, if he is allowed to start.

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.