After a historic October where India faced Brazil and Uruguay, the Blue Tigers will face another World Cup team in New Zealand to wrap up the final international break of the year. India will face As usual, India’s squad selection has faced a lot of scrutiny, with head coach Khalid Jamil making several notable decisions as they prepare to face the All Whites away from home. The 23-member squad features a blend of fresh faces, returning players and some long-awaited selections, suggesting that the former I-League winning coach is keen to assess different options while preparing the national team for its upcoming challenges. With several players getting an opportunity to establish themselves in the national setup, the friendlies could provide valuable insight into Jamil's plans for the future.
Debuts waiting to happen
Inclusion of new faces in selecting the squad is always a topic of discussion. It is no different this time, with a bunch of talents waiting to showcase themselves on the international stage. Hrithik Tiwari has been on the radar of the national team for some time now but has yet to earn his cap for the national team. He is most probably going to fulfil that in the friendlies against New Zealand having earned another call-up for his continued excellence in the ISL. This season, playing for Odisha FC, the 24-year-old made 10 saves from 13 shots faced while keeping one clean sheet. His save percentage of about 77% shows his ability to make crucial interventions, even when his team comes under pressure. Despite Vishal Kaith being the automatic choice under the sticks in Gurpreet’s absence, Hrithik has a strong case to battle him, especially as India's goalkeeping department enters a period of transition with Som Kumar the other one in the mix.
The next big debut to look forward to is David Lalhlansanga. The East Bengal forward is highly rated and is slowly demonstrating his true potential through his performances at both the domestic and continental levels this season. The former Aizawl player bagged a memorable hat-trick in the IFA Shield semifinal and also bagged a goal and registered an assist in 110 minutes of league football. However, his performances in the AFC Champions League Two have been more influential, with his brace against Al Shorta reinstating his credibility. This is not the first time he has been called up to the national team, but this is set to be his most significant one. Meanwhile, Tomba Singh Haobam gets an opportunity to showcase his abilities at the international level. His inclusion adds another young option to India's midfield, an area where the national team needs greater competition and depth. Punjab FC forward Muhammad Suhail was initially part of Naushad Moosa's SAFF Championship squad but will now leave the tournament in Dhaka to join the senior team in New Zealand alongside Bijoy Varghese and Liston Colaco.
Major recalls
Not only new faces but returning players have also grabbed the headlines. Jithin MS has arguably been one of the most convincing Indian performers in the opening phase of the ISL season. Representing NorthEast United FC, the winger has registered two goals and an assist in five league appearances. His contributions have come at important moments. Jithin scored the all-important late winner against Mohun Bagan Super Giant in their ISL opener and found the net again against Bengaluru FC in a 1-1 draw. He also provided an assist in NorthEast United's 2-0 win over Churchill Brothers before the international break. The numbers suggest that his recall is backed by consistent output.
Along with him, midfielder Lalrinliana Hnamte has escalated his game with his new club SC Delhi. He has produced one goal and an assist in five ISL games and has been a strong presence in the middle of the park. The midfielder has the technical ability to contribute to India's build-up play and offers Jamil another option in the central areas. Both Jithin and Hnamte have just one cap under their belt before this call-up, so it is an opportunity to prove their worth against a World Cup team. However, the big comeback to the squad has been Liston Colaco, who seemed to be getting back to form, albeit with substitute cameos, having not donned the national colours since last year.
Vishal Kaith finally gets his place
One of the most significant selections is that of Vishal Kaith. The Mohun Bagan Super Giant goalkeeper has been among the consistent performers in Indian football, yet his call-up at the national level has been surprisingly limited. His performances at club level have regularly raised questions about his absence from the national team setup. Kaith proved again that he is the best goalkeeper in the land presently after emphatically guiding the Mariners to the Durand Cup final, IFA Shield triumph and starting the ISL season on a high. Kaith has played four league matches, conceding just two goals and keeping one clean sheet. More importantly, he has made 13 saves from 16 shots faced, giving him an impressive save percentage of approximately 81%.
The 30-year-old’s consistency has been an important factor for his club to cling to the top of the table once again. His continued incredible performances between the sticks have now been too hard to resist as Jamil has selected the shot-stopper for India’s friendlies in November. Not only getting selected in the squad, but Kaith will also apparently be the number one against New Zealand. With Gurpreet Singh Sandhu absent from the squad, the goalkeeper may find himself vying for a key role during the two friendly matches and potentially more in the future. Kaith’s last game for the national team was last year, when he made a costly error against Hong Kong. However, the former Chennaiyin FC keeper is ready to give much happier memories this time.
Gurpreet Singh Excluded
The most significant decision in the squad announcement is arguably the exclusion of Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. One of India's most experienced players and a former national team captain, Gurpreet has been a regular presence between the posts for several years. His absence marks a notable departure from the established goalkeeping hierarchy. The decision comes after India's disappointing 4-0 defeat against Brazil in October, during which Gurpreet endured a difficult outing. Although one performance should not define the career of an experienced international, his recent error-prone performances and growing age has caused an exclusion suggesting that Jamil is willing to reassess his options. It also opens the door for other goalkeepers to establish themselves. With Kaith finally receiving his opportunity and two younger players included, India could be entering a phase where competition for the number one position becomes more open. However, Gurpreet's experience and leadership qualities mean that his absence will still be felt. Whether this is a temporary omission or the beginning of a longer-term transition remains to be seen.
Anwar Ali injured
While the squad announcement has brought some positives, Anwar Ali's absence is arguably one of the biggest setbacks for Khalid Jamil’s side. The East Bengal defender has been ruled out of the New Zealand friendlies after suffering a Grade 1 hamstring injury, which could keep him out of action for more than a month. Anwar sustained the injury during East Bengal's AFC Champions League Two encounter against Al Seeb. The defender had to be substituted after experiencing discomfort leaving East Bengal with an immediate defensive concern. For India, however, the loss goes beyond missing an experienced centre-back. Anwar has established himself as one of the country's most dependable defenders, offering a combination of physical strength, positional awareness and composure on the ball. His ability to play out from the back is particularly important in a team that often struggles to progress possession under pressure.
His partnership with other central defenders has also been an important component of India's defensive structure. Against a physically strong New Zealand side, Anwar's aerial ability, defensive aggression and capacity to deal with direct attacking movements would have been valuable. More importantly, his absence leaves Jamil with fewer established options in central defence. The squad includes Mehtab Singh, Bijoy Varghese and other defensive alternatives, but replacing Anwar's experience and overall contribution will not be straightforward. The timing is particularly unfortunate. With India preparing to face a team that has qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, defensive organisation will be crucial. Anwar's availability would have given Jamil greater stability and flexibility while selecting his backline. Apuia and Edmund Lalrindika have also missed out because of injuries, further limiting India's options in midfield and attack.
India's 23-player squad for New Zealand Friendlies
Goalkeepers: Hrithik Tiwari, Som Kumar, Vishal Kaith.
Defenders: Abhishek Singh Tekcham, Akash Mishra, Bijoy Varghese, Jay Gupta, Mehtab Singh, Pramveer, 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.
Head Coach: Khalid Jamil
A challenging test awaits India
Beyond the individual selections, the two friendlies against New Zealand will be an important test for Khalid Jamil's team. The All Whites have qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and will provide India with a considerably different challenge from the opponents they have faced in recent international windows. For India, the matches will be their first outings since the September-October friendlies against Panama, Brazil and Uruguay. India's historic 1-1 draw against Panama offered some encouragement, but the subsequent defeats against Brazil and Uruguay highlighted the gap that still exists between the Blue Tigers and stronger international sides. Jamil will therefore be looking for improvements in defensive organisation, midfield coordination and attacking efficiency. The inclusion of several new players also suggests that he wants to expand his options rather than depend entirely on the established core.
Ultimately, the squad announcement represents an important opportunity for both the established players and those waiting to make their mark. The newcomers will want to establish themselves, the returning players will look to reclaim their positions, and Jamil will have two challenging fixtures to assess his team's progress. The biggest question, however, is whether these selection decisions will translate into meaningful improvements on the pitch. Against a World Cup-bound opponent, India will need more than individual performances to produce encouraging results. India will face New Zealand on November 12 at the Go Media Stadium in Auckland, with kick-off scheduled for 11:30 AM IST. The second encounter will take place on November 15 at the One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch at 8:30 AM IST
India's Fixtures against New Zealand
Thursday, 12 November 2026
New Zealand vs India - Go Media Stadium, Auckland (23:30 IST)
Sunday, 15 November 2026
New Zealand vs India - One New Zealand Stadium, Christchurch (08:30 IST)