Top five players dropped by Igor Stimac for upcoming friendlies

Each of these players were previously part of the national team setup.

The Indian football team announced a 24-man probable squad for their upcoming games against Vietnam and Singapore. The games are scheduled to take place on September 24 and 27, with Igor Stimac’s side returning to action for the first time since their successful AFC Cup 2023 qualifiers campaign.

The squad named by Stimac has some surprising exclusions. Some players like Rahul Bheke, Suresh Singh and Rahim Ali were ineligible for selection due to injuries. However, some available major names were snubbed from the squad.

This includes players who have prominently featured in Stimac’s team in recent years, as well as bonified experienced stars of the team. Let’s look at the top five omissions from the Indian football team squad for the Vietnam tour.

5. Asish Rai

In the 24-man squad, India only have two right-back options – Harmanjot Singh Khabra and Naorem Roshan Singh. Roshan, moreover, is more comfortable as a left-back and operates as a makeshift right-back. Surprisingly, Stimac has opted against selecting Asish Rai despite how much he’s grown over the last year. The 23-year-old played a prolific role in Hyderabad FC’s success in the Indian Super League (ISL) last season.

In 16 appearances, he registered three assists and averaged almost 3+ crosses, 4+ tackles and 2+ blocks per game. Rai is an efficient attacking option because of his pace, crossing ability and tendency to get beyond defenders' grasp. Perhaps this snub is evidence that Stimac sees Roshan as his go-to right-back for the foreseeable future.

4. Subhasish Bose

Another one of the multiple ATK Mohun Bagan players to be missing from the squad is the experienced Subhasish Bose. The left-back has been an Indian football team regular for five years now. However, it looks like Stimac doesn’t consider him as quintessential anymore.

Bose hasn’t been too convincing in recent games either, as he put in a stinker in ATK Mohun Bagan’s AFC Cup exit to Kuala Lumpur City FC earlier this month. The 27-year-old is yet to hit his peak and lacks some key qualities for Stimac’s side. His attacking style is weary and he doesn’t give as much versatility in the area as Akash Mishra does. It could be a long road back to the national team for Bose.

3. Hormipan Ruivah

One of the breakout stars of the 2021/22 ISL season, Hormipan Ruivah helped Kerala Blasters almost go all the way in the competition. The 21-year-old was a clever, efficient worker at the back and helped his side maintain a solid defensive record. In 14 matches last season, Ruivah averaged over four clearances and four tackles per/game – while only making 14 fouls all season long.

The 21-year-old’s composure at the back and game-reading ability made him stand out from many Indian defenders in the ISL. Despite his heroics, Ruivah has been snubbed from the squad – with Narender Gahlot being selected instead. The 21-year-old will probably need to work on his physicality and passing ability to get back into Stimac’s squad.

2. Pritam Kotal

Pritam Kotal’s omission is especially surprising considering that he has been among the Indian football team mainstays in recent years. He’s made 47 appearances for the Blue Tigers, slotting into a variety of roles for them. But it was probably the uncertainty over his role at ATK Mohun Bagan that might’ve cost Kotal this time around.

The 28-year-old defender is being shifted between a centre-back and right-back role, affecting his game. He isn’t performing as sturdily as he does and has made quite a lot of errors in matches over this year. That’s why Stimac probably didn’t see fit to select the ATK Mohun Bagan star, who has to prove his highly reliable self to get back into the national team.

1. Manvir Singh

Igor Stimac made a very interesting comment on Manvir Singh during the AFC Cup 2022 qualifiers, specifically after the 2-0 win over Cambodia. He said: “I have some players who will be here while I’m here, irrespective of how they play at the club level. The speed and strength I have in Manvir (Singh) and Ashique (Kuruniyan), I need them here to use the speed they have to hurt the opposition, irrespective of how they are playing.”

Fast forward three months, and only one of those players are in the 24-man Indian football team squad for the Vietnam games. Manvir has somehow fallen out of favour in the national team and isn’t as important for Stimac as he once was.

He has probably been dropped because of his underwhelming recent performances, including the ones in the Durand Cup and in the loss to Kuala Lumpur City FC. It’s clear, Manvir has to start scoring more goals at a consistent rate to prove his ability to be India’s future No. 9 option.