India at AFC Asian Cup: Top 5 Indian Players To Watch Out For Except Sunil Chhetri In Qatar

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India team's captain fantastic Sunil Chhetri needs no new introduction to the Blue Tigers supporters. Hence, it is important to shed light on the talented players, who will be assisting him on the pitch in the AFC Asian Cup 2024.

The Indian football team is in Group B with Australia, Uzbekistan, and Syria. These teams' respective FIFA rankings are 25th, 68th, and 91st. Hence, it will be a tough road for 102nd-ranked India to progress further. We take a look at the top 5 players -- barring Sunil Chhetri --, who could help India reach knockout stages.

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu

Next to captain Sunil Chhetri, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu is the most reliable player in the squad. The first-choice goalkeeper once captained the Norwegian club Stabaek and became the first Indian player to do so.

The 31-year-old shot-stopper's level-headed play and experience of participating in two editions of the AFC Asian Cup will be key in keeping India afloat against such tough opponents. Sandhu knows he can't put a foot wrong in Qatar with somebody like Amrinder Singh breathing down his neck for a spot in the starting 11.

Sandesh Jhingan

Sandesh Jhingan is another extremely familiar name with 60 Indian football team appearances. The 30-year-old centre-back is another player with European football experience as he played for Croatian second-tier club HNK Sibenik back in 2021. His aggressive style of play and last-ditched tackles have saved India's blushes on several occasions.

Anirudh Thapa

At the age of 25, Anirudh Thapa has 53 national team appearances to his name. Unlike his predecessors, the Mohun Bagan midfielder lacks the physical presence in the middle of the park but is capable of unlocking rival's defense with his long-range passing, vision, and street-smart play.

Sahal Abdul Samad

Sahal Abdul Samad has become a fan favourite at his club Mohun Bagan supporters after achieving icon status at his former club Kerala Blasters. He has been able to charm everyone with his dribbling, passing abilities, and quick-thinking runs, making him a potent threat in the final third.

However, reports suggest that the 26-year-old attacking midfielder may not play any role in the opening match of the AFC Asian Cup as the player has just returned from an injury but is unlikely to be fit enough to see minutes.

Lallianzuala Chhangte

Lallianzuala Chhangte was not always a regular name in the national squad. However, his performance at the club level over the last two seasons managed to impress the coach Igor Stimac. The wide forward made the most of his chances when Manvir Singh was out with a long injury lay-off, becoming a big-match impact player and has often earned praises from the Croatian coach for his professionalism and hardwork in training and matches. He was called up for both the World Cup qualifiers matches in November, where he assisted the only goal against Kuwait to Manvir after coming off the bench.