Seven India U23 stars who merit a spot in senior team camp for AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in October

The Blue Colts finished as the runners-up in Group H.

The Indian U23 team came close to scripting history in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers. The Blue Colts narrowly missed out on their first-ever qualification to the AFC U23 Asian Cup in a heartbreaking fashion. Naushad Moosa’s boys finished fifth among the eleven second-placed teams, just one spot behind the qualification places.

Had it not been for some controversial decisions and late comebacks in other games, this India team would have etched its name in the history books. The qualifying campaign was all about the next generation of stars making the most of the occasion. In this article, we will look at those seven names who should be promoted to the national team setup for the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers in October.

Pramveer

Let’s start from the back. Pramveer was in the middle of the heat for India in the qualifying campaign. From neutralizing Bahrain’s attack in the first game to expressing himself against Qatar, Pramveer was omnipresent.

The young Indian centre-back was one of the major reasons India could put up a strong front against sturdy West Asian sides like Bahrain and Qatar. Pramveer is defensively resolute and comfortable with the ball under pressure.

India have a settled centre-back pairing of Sandesh Jhingan and Anwar Ali, but there is a lack of depth. Pramveer would be a great addition to the squad, and it is time India should try and groom another centre-back with Sandesh approaching the later phase of his career.

India U23 defender Pramveer reflects on the loss and the controversial referee decisions against Qatar in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers! #IndianFootball #IndianU23FootballTeam pic.twitter.com/i3TgNE6PMb

— Khel Now (@KhelNow) September 8, 2025

Muhammed Suhail

The shining star of India’s campaign in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers, Muhammed Suhail, took the tournament by storm with his consecutive masterclass against Bahrain and Qatar. His ability to take on the opposition defenders grabbed the attention. Suhail was a menace on the right wing with his pace and skill.

The most important trait that Team India would be keeping an eye on is his goal-scoring prowess. It is not just his skills and pace that did the job, but his goalscoring prowess created the major difference. The Blue Tigers have struggled in recent times to find a proven goal-scorer, and Suhail might be that missing piece of the jigsaw puzzle.

Mohammed Sanan

Suhail’s partner on the left wing, Mohammed Sanan, was the other part of India’s deadly duo on the wings. The talented Jamshedpur FC winger embraced the opportunity in the qualifiers to prove his mettle. Sanan was the primary source of threat that India possessed on the left. His blazing runs did not give the opposition much time to settle.

At the end of this campaign, the only box that could not be ticked for Sanan is ‘goals’. He came close to scoring against Bahrain only to be denied by an offside call. The senior team has tried different options on the left wing in the CAFA Nations Cup 2025, but not to great success. Khalid should consider Sanan for the next camp as India continues the pursuit to find a lethal left-winger.

Lalremtluanga Fanai

The Indian Football fans have always craved for a player who can excel in the defensive midfield role with his technicality. Lalremtluanga Fanai seems to be the figure who can play that role. The young Bengaluru FC defender was a sight to behold in the midfield.

His work rate was phenomenal. What holds more importance is his willingness to fight for each blade of grass. Fanai was fearless in his approach and did not shy away from taking on the opposition players.

His skill to anticipate the opposition movement helped him make effective tackles and challenges in the centre of the park. In the recently concluded CAFA Nations Cup, all of us missed someone who has these skills. Fanai can emerge as an asset for Khalid Jamil’s team.

Vibin Mohanan

Vibin Mohanan showed up late in the qualifiers but showed up in style. The Kerala Blasters midfielder scored a jaw-dropping hat-trick against Brunei to make his mark. Mohanan impressed with his flawless game that gave no space to the opposition to keep their shape intact.

Vibin Mohanan was one of the players who played a key role in creating a plethora of chances for India. He opened up the low block of Brunei with finesse, something that the senior team has not been able to do in the recent past. Khalid Jamil has managed to extract strong defensive performances from the team, but struggled when it came to creating chances. The solution to that lies in players like Vibin Mohanan.

HAT-TRICK FOR VIBIN MOHANAN! The midfielder scores a stellar free-kick to make it 4-0 for the Blue Colts in the 62nd minute! India U23 4-0 Brunei U23#IndianFootball #indianu23footballteam #AFCU23Qualifiers pic.twitter.com/RrCHnOpD1N

— Khel Now (@KhelNow) September 9, 2025

Mohammed Aimen

Another name who lit up the left wing for India was Mohammed Aimen. The Kerala lad came into the picture in the later phase of the qualifiers, but did not miss out on making the most of the opportunity. The 22-year-old did not receive regular starts in the qualifiers, but he shone in the limited time that he got on the pitch.

His two screamers against Brunei were a reminder that Aimen can stun the opposition with his quick decision-making and razor-sharp shooting skills.

Mohammed Aimen scores the last goal of the night as India claim a 6-0 win over Brunei in the AFC U23 Asian Cup Qualifiers!India U23 6-0 Bahrain U23#IndianFootball #indianu23footballteam #AFCU23Qualifier pic.twitter.com/DGvixe5AZh

— Khel Now (@KhelNow) September 9, 2025

Lalrinliana Hnamte

Lalrinliana Hnamte proved to be a key figure for the Blue Colts. He impressed in the role of a box-to-box midfielder. Similar to Fanai, Hnamte also troubled the opposition and did not let them dictate the game in the midfield. Along with Fanai, he made sure the defense was not left vulnerable.

In the national team setup, there is a dearth of players who are technically adept to control the game in the midfield. Only Apuia has the ability to do that job. Someone like Hnamte can add more options to Khalid Jamil’s plans.

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.