Anirudh Thapa: "I was lucky enough" after scoring in India’s 1-6 defeat to Uruguay

India lost 1-6 to Uruguay at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata on October 6, 2026, in the final game of the Blue Tigers FIFA International Window. Anirudh Thapa scored India’s only goal in the match.

The match began with India pressing for an early breakthrough before a penalty conceded by India was converted by Darwin Nunez to put Uruguay ahead. India levelled when Anirudh Thapa tapped in a second ball after a Ryan Williams long-range effort deflected off the goalkeeper. Play was temporarily suspended because of lightning; after the restart Uruguay regained control and added five goals from Rodrigo Zalazar, Juan Manuel Sanabria, Rodrigo Aguirre and Maximiliano Araújo, who scored twice, to complete a 6-1 victory.

Thapa’s strike was his first international goal since March 22, 2023, when he scored against Myanmar, and it remained India’s only goal in the game. "Yeah, for sure. You know, I was hoping I could just score in these three matches because of the special news. So, I was just hoping, and somehow I was lucky enough; you know, I got that goal. So, I think I’m blessed enough for that," Thapa told the media.

Asked whether India is creating a new identity, Thapa highlighted the squad’s quality and referenced club-level form. "Yes, we can say that. And plus, the quality we have in the team, we can see in the league as well. You know, the likes of Sanan and Sahal, then Ryan coming in, Manvir giving his hard work. So, we have this mixed bunch of boys, you know, working hard in the team. But as we know that, you know, many of the boys were not playing for quite a long time. Still, we were performing at the highest level with the best team, with the best players in the world."

Thapa also reflected on timing and match sharpness. "So, I think we have done pretty well. And if it were, you know, later in the season, I think we would have done pretty much more. So, I think we need to be confident. We need to be motivated and just keep the ball and try what we have, what the quality of the boys is. So, I think we can do much more."

India had faced Brazil on October 3 and met Uruguay three days later with limited recovery time. "You know, it was simple. We were playing for our country. So, I think the boys were pretty much motivated enough. The plan was simple. It was all clear. We tried to do that. But as I said, you know, we are a young boys’ team," Thapa said.

On the value of fixtures against Panama, Brazil and Uruguay, Thapa stressed the lessons offered by facing composed opponents. "You know, with the quality they have, with the touch, how composed they are with the ball, you know, off the ball, their movement, like we saw, against Brazil and Uruguay. I think these are the small moments where, you know, we are concentrated, we are all focused; then one mistake and boom, there’s the goal. So, these sort of matches, you know, prepare us for the big tournaments." "You know, these are just preparing us as a team, as individuals, you know, how much more we can grow. Because we are a young team, like I said, and there are many boys with so much experience and so much talent they have. I think if they can keep on playing these sorts of games, they will be better players."

Thapa identified decision-making and composure with possession as key areas for improvement. "I think the decision-making, because we need to decide when we need to slow the game down, when we need to pick the pace up. Because, like, you know, they were more composed than us; they were trying to keep the ball in the middle." "They were, you know, making us come closer, and then they were finding the gap. I think these are the games that will make us, you know, understand how football is, what it is about. So, if we can, we are more composed with the ball, and we can decide when to go up and when to keep the ball. I think that’s something we need to build upon."

Thapa’s goal came in the 22nd minute of the match, and India’s head coach is Khalid Jamil.