India reshuffle SAFF Championship 2026 squad ahead of Maldives clash
Multiple players have been released from India’s SAFF Championship squad.
Indian Football Team beat Pakistan 3-2 in their SAFF Championship 2026 opener on November 5. However, the squad that won it has already been cut apart leaving head coach Naushad Moosa with selection woes yet again.
Three players have been called up for the national team that will play two friendlies against New Zealand, two players are out injured, and three more have been released back to Mumbai City FC from the national team.
Head coach Naushad Moosa now has 20 players, and only three nominal forwards, to prepare for the remainder of SAFF Championship 2026.
Call ups for the New Zealand friendlies
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Three players from India’s SAFF Championship 2026 squad have been called up to the 23-man national team squad for the friendly against New Zealand: defender Bijoy Varghese and forwards Muhammad Suhail and Liston Colaco.
For the players, it is a clear step up. A friendly against a higher-ranked opponent is a better test than anything the group stage of SAFF Championship offers.
For the SAFF side, the cost is concentrated in one department.
Both forwards were taken from an attack of five, so Moosa almost lost half of his forward options in a single call.
Bijoy’s departure also thins a defence that had to deal with Pakistan’s two goals on the opening night.
Wangjam & Ronney out, Mumbai City take back three
Midfielder Suresh Singh Wangjam has been ruled out of the tournament after picking up an injury in the ISL game between FC Goa and Bengaluru FC. FC Goa’s Ronney Kharbudon will also miss the trip to Dhaka due to injury.
It is a loss in key areas, where they would have helped Moosa manage the workload through a compressed group stage.
Suresh Singh Wangjam’s absence matters because midfield is where this squad has been losing numbers. Apart from that, the experience Suresh would’ve covered for a second-string squad is also now lost.
Defender Hmingthanmawia Ralte (Valpuia), Farukh Choudhary and Noufal PN also return to their club, Mumbai City FC.
Valpuia’s release takes the defensive count from to 6 adding to Bijoy and Ronney. Choudhary and Noufal’s departures account for the other midfield and attack losses.
The squad of 20 still includes three goalkeepers, so outfield cover is thinner than the headline number suggests.
Very less outfield players have to cover a tournament in which India will play several matches in a short period.
Tactical implications for the Maldives game
Forward line: Irfan Yadwad, PV Vishnu and Suhail Ahmad Bhat are now the only specialist forwards.
Both could start, but any injury, suspension or fatigue leaves Moosa with no like-for-like replacement. The likelier fix is to push attack-minded midfielders such as Brison Fernandes and Abhishek Suryavanshi higher up the pitch, or to rotate players into the front line.
Midfield: With Wangjam and two others gone, eight midfielders remain. The numbers are fine, but the group has lost some of its experienced names.
Defence: Six defenders remain after Varghese and Ralte left.
Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Nathan Rodrigues and Abdul Rabeeh are the experienced names.
Sandip Mandi, Muhammed Uvais and Khaiminthang Lhungdim give cover, though the back line will have fewer proven combinations than it did against Pakistan.
Conceding twice in the opener means Moosa has little room for a shaky defence.
The Maldives game will show whether India can win comfortably with a patched-up squad. Moosa will want the points secured without relying on a front two that has no backup.
India’s updated SAFF Championship 2026 squad
Goalkeepers: Arsh Anwer Shaikh, Mohanraj K, Priyansh Dubey
Defenders: Abdul Rabeeh, Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Khaiminthang Lhungdim, Muhammed Uvais, Nathan Rodrigues, Sandip Mandi
Midfielders: Abhishek Suryavanshi, Adison Singh Thokchom, Brison Fernandes, Ebindas Yesudasan, Macarton Nickson, Mangenthang Kipgen, Nikhil Prabhu, Ricky John Shabong
Forwards: Irfan Yadwad, Suhail Ahmad Bhat, PV Vishnu
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