Naushad Moosa names 28-player India squad for SAFF Championship in Dhaka
Naushad Moosa has named a 28-player Indian squad for the SAFF Championship 2026 in Dhaka, Bangladesh, which runs from November 5 to 17, while the All India Football Federation will field a separate first-string team under Khalid Jamil for two November friendlies against New Zealand.
Reports had earlier raised doubts about India’s participation, but the AIFF confirmed a second-string group made up largely of U-23 players will represent the country at the SAFF Championship; Moosa announced his 28-member squad on October 30 and will be assisted by Bibiano Fernandes, with the selection containing a mix of emerging talents and a few familiar senior faces and the return of some previously dropped regulars.
One of the call-ups generating attention is Lhungdim of Punjab FC, whose inclusion the article describes as long-awaited; he is depicted as a consistently performing right-back who delivers "7/10 performances almost every game," noted for tackling, ground defending and recovering possession on the right flank before turning it into an attack, while also offering "decent abilities in the final third."
Rabeeh, recently moved to NorthEast United FC, has earned his first senior call-up after consistent performances; described as a right winger with technical flair and dribbling ability, he has been deployed as a left-back/left wing-back this season under Juan Pedro Benali and "performed exceptionally well" in that role, with the article noting Naushad Moosa's record of improving wingers such as Sanan and Suhail at U-23 level and questioning whether Rabeeh will be used on either wing or at left-back "ahead of Uvais."
Vishnu PV is profiled for recent offensive productivity: he scored "four goals and providing three assists in 22 appearances" in the 2024-25 ISL season; after being converted into a left wing-back by Oscar Bruzon he still recorded "four goal contributions" in the shortened season, and this campaign he has "in seven games, he has registered seven goal contributions, including a hattrick in the 2026 Durand Cup," with the article emphasising his ball-carrying, pace and composure in the final third.
Muhammad Suhail is highlighted for his U-23 form under Moosa, having "registered a goal or an assist in every game of the AFC U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers" under the coach and having missed a prior senior call-up through injury; the piece describes his ability to take on defenders, deliver dangerous crosses, cut inside to attempt goals and operate as an inverted winger, and it notes a potential right-flank partnership if he starts on the right while Lhungdim occupies right-back.
The article also points to a Mohun Bagan striker described as one of the country's most promising young forwards, whom Naushad Moosa is expected to favour "ahead of the likes of Irfan Yadwad and Liston Colaco," noting the Mohun Bagan striker has "scored five goals in seven official games for his U-23 side," regularly features for the national youth teams while making only occasional club appearances, and will seek to use positional awareness, movement inside the box and link-up play to stake a claim in the senior setup.
As defending champions, India will travel to Dhaka to contest the SAFF Championship from November 5 to 17 with Naushad Moosa leading the squad and Bibiano Fernandes as his assistant; the last SAFF Championship, held in 2023, saw hosts India emerge as champions.
