Three changes Khalid Jamil must implement before India’s second friendly with New Zealand
India were beaten 5-0 by New Zealand at the Go Media Stadium in the first of two international friendlies in the November FIFA international window, exposing tactical and defensive issues the team must address before the next match.
Jesse Randall, Chris Wood and Lachlan Bayliss were among the scorers for New Zealand in the defeat, which the article says highlighted India’s struggles with the opponents’ physicality and technical play. The Blue Tigers have registered just one win in 2026 under head coach Khalid Jamil, a run the piece links to the performance in this opening friendly.
The report criticises the continued use of a rigid 4-4-2 by Khalid Jamil, noting the two-striker system left India weak in midfield in the first friendly. New Zealand exploited the numerical advantage against India’s two-man midfield of Fanai and Anirudh Thapa, the article states, and recommends adding midfield numbers through formations such as a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1. It also repeats the view that a 4-2-3-1 offers greater defensive solidity, which the piece suggests would be useful against higher ranked teams like New Zealand.
The write-up points out that under Jamil India have often relied on direct long balls, but those routes failed against an aerially superior New Zealand. It says the Blue Tigers repeatedly lost possession from direct play and singles out Manvir Singh, Ryan Williams and the Indian midfield for being unable to retain such long deliveries. The article advises improving passing combinations, runs between the lines and forward support, and advocates playing more centrally with the ball at the feet as an alternative approach.
Wide play and defensive tracking are identified as a further weakness exposed in the first friendly, with New Zealand exploiting spaces on the flanks. Jesse Randall is noted to have dominated New Zealand’s attacks down the right side, while the piece reports Liston Colaco dropped back but offered little defensive contribution and Jithin MS provided nothing on the right flank defensively. The article links those failures to most of New Zealand’s attacks originating from that side.
The author frames these three adjustments—more midfield numbers, less reliance on aerial direct play, and improved defensive work from the wingers—as the primary fixes Khalid Jamil should consider ahead of the rematch. India will play New Zealand again on November 15, and the article positions that fixture as the immediate test for any tactical changes.