Khalid Jamil names 23 for New Zealand friendlies, Mohun Bagan lead club contributions
Head coach Khalid Jamil on 11 November 2026 named a 23-member Indian squad to travel to New Zealand for two international friendlies on 12 and 15 November. The announcement included several unexpected selections and omissions and drew players from multiple Indian Super League clubs.
India arrive in New Zealand after a September–October run of fixtures against Brazil, Uruguay and Panama and amid a wider scheduling decision that placed the New Zealand friendlies alongside the 2026 SAFF Championship. The matches form part of the “100 Years of Unity through Sport” partnership between India and New Zealand dating to 1926 when Major Dhyan Chand toured New Zealand with the Indian Army hockey team. India enter the window ranked 138th in the world, and the federation split resources by sending Naushad Moosa to lead a second-string team for the SAFF Championship while Jamil takes the first team to Auckland.
Mohun Bagan SG supplied the most players to Jamil’s 23-man list, with six selections including the recalled goalkeeper Vishal Kaith. Apuia and Sahal Abdul Samad were absent because of injuries, while Anirudh Thapa retained his place alongside Mehtab Singh, Abhishek Tekcham and Manvir Singh. Liston Colaco, originally part of the SAFF squad, has been promoted and will join five teammates on the New Zealand trip.
Several notable personnel changes featured in the squad: captain Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was omitted, Ryan Williams kept his place, and Ricky Meetei Haobam was included after missing the previous two camps because of injuries and visa issues. Lalremtluanga Fanai returned to the senior set-up following performances with India U-23 and Bengaluru FC. The selections also include Ashique Kuruniyan and Roshan Singh Naorem despite both not being regular starters for their clubs in recent matches.
Defensive and goalkeeper adjustments followed injury developments and form decisions: Jay Gupta retained his place, Anwar Ali was ruled out of the New Zealand friendlies with a hamstring injury suffered in the first half against Al-Seeb, and David Lalhlansanga returned to the national fold after an absence of almost 30 months. Prabhsukhan Gill was omitted despite featuring in the second half against Brazil, while Pramveer Singh kept his place and is expected to take on a larger role with Anwar Ali unavailable. Macarton Louis Nickson will remain with Naushad Moosa’s Dhaka squad, and Jithin MS has returned to the senior team and will travel to New Zealand.
From Punjab FC, all six players initially called to Naushad Moosa’s SAFF squad featured in the opener against Pakistan, with Bijoy Varghese and Muhammad Suhail now promoted to the first-string group and expected to depart Dhaka for New Zealand. Tomba Singh Haobam, who had been called into the SAFF squad as a replacement for Vibin Mohanan, has been redirected to the New Zealand tour following Khalid Jamil’s assessment of his recent form. Mumbai City have one representative in the touring party: club captain Akash Mishra; Valpuia, Vikram and Farukh missed out, with Vikram injured and the other two remaining with the SAFF squad and expected to return home after the opening game alongside Noufal and Nathan Rodrigues.
Additional squad and selection notes include Hrithik Tiwari’s recall to replace Albino Gomes after recent Indian Super League displays against Mohun Bagan and NorthEast United, Rahim Ali’s absence from both squads, and Lalrinliana Hnamte’s return to the senior set-up after moving from Chennaiyin FC to the capital this summer and last being part of the national group in 2024 under Manolo Márquez. Mohammed Sanan was called up to replace Edmund Lalrindika following the East Bengal forward’s injury and after his cameo against Uruguay; Irfan Yadwad has been assigned to Naushad Moosa’s second-string group, leaving Chennaiyin with no players in Jamil’s first team. The squad named by Khalid Jamil is listed as follows: Goalkeepers: Hrithik Tiwari, Som Kumar, Vishal Kaith. Defenders: Abhishek Singh Tekcham, Akash Mishra, Bijoy Varghese, Jay Gupta, Mehtab Singh, Pramveer Singh, Ricky Meetei Haobam, Roshan Singh Naorem. Midfielders: Anirudh Thapa, Ashique Kuruniyan, Jithin MS, Lalremtluanga Fanai, Lalrinliana Hnamte, Tomba Singh Haobam. Forwards: David Lalhlansanga, Mohammed Sanan, Liston Colaco, Manvir Singh, Muhammad Suhail, Ryan Williams.
India’s next confirmed fixtures are the two friendlies in Auckland on 12 and 15 November, with Khalid Jamil leading the senior team; Anwar Ali will not be available for those matches due to his hamstring injury.