Five U-23 players included in India squad for friendlies against Panama, Brazil and Uruguay
Khalid Jamil has included five U-23 prospects in India's September-October squad for a string of international friendlies, with the Blue Tigers' training camp set to begin on September 14 in Bengaluru and fixtures scheduled for September 26 (Panama), October 3 (Brazil) and October 6 (Uruguay).
Jamil’s selection comes ahead of an international break that Khel Now described as featuring three high-profile opponents; the report noted debate that participation in the FIFA ASEAN Cup 2026 might have offered more exposure for the next generation but added that the upcoming friendlies against top nations will draw more attention to the national team. The announced squad mixes younger players and experienced names for the September-October FIFA Men’s International Match Window.
Pramveer, 19, earned his first full India cap in a June friendly against Tajikistan, coming on in a match that finished 1-1. He has represented India at U-17, U-20 and U-23 levels since 2023, and moved from Punjab FC to NorthEast United over the summer, making his debut for the Highlanders in the recent Durand Cup.
Macarton Nickson, a 22-year-old defensive midfielder, debuted for NorthEast United in the Indian Super League in 2023 and has accumulated 68 appearances for the Highlanders. He has helped the club lift the Durand Cup twice, has featured for India’s U-23s and has made four senior appearances; his most recent cap came in the 3-1 loss to Tajikistan.
Abhishek Singh Tekcham, a wingback currently with Mohun Bagan Super Giant, played six matches in the 2026 Durand Cup and previously appeared for India in youth age groups before featuring for the senior side. His last outing for India was in March, a 2-1 win over Hong Kong in an AFC Asian Cup qualifier.
Ricky Meetei, a 20-year-old Bengaluru FC midfielder, has been named in the senior squad after extensive youth-level involvement with the Blue Colts. He made seven appearances in the 2025-26 ISL season for BFC, contributing across fixtures that produced four club wins in that campaign.
Mohammed Sanan, 22, arrives from Jamshedpur FC after three seasons with the club, where he made 81 appearances and scored 13 goals. Khel Now reported that Jamshedpur FC has shut down operations; Sanan has also made four appearances for India in 2026.
The selected players will report to the Bengaluru training camp on September 14 as India prepare for the confirmed friendlies on September 26 (Panama), October 3 (Brazil) and October 6 (Uruguay). For more updates, Khel Now directs readers to its Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube channels and its Android and iOS apps, and to its WhatsApp and Telegram communities.
