AFC Asian Cup: India vs Australia Predicted Starting XI: Probable Line-Up, Injury Update In Opening Group B Match

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India vs Australia AFC Asian Cup: India drew the lot with Australia, Uzbekistan, and Syria in Group B for the AFC Asian Cup 2024 group stage. All the teams will bring a tough fight for the Blue Tigers as they reside ahead in the FIFA ranking.

With that, the Indian football team will start their journey in the toughest possible way against the Socceroos. Coach Igor Stimac will have to line up his strongest XI overcoming several injury concerns.

AFC Asian Cup: India vs Australia Predicted Starting XI

India: (Formation: 4-2-3-1) Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (GK); Akash Mishra, Sandesh Jhingan, Rahul Bheke, Nikhil Poojary; Anirudh Thapa, Suresh Singh; Lallianzuala Chhangte, Sahal Abdul Samad/Rahul KP, Naorem Mahesh Singh; Sunil Chhetri

Australia: (Formation: 4-4-2) Matt Ryan (GK); Nathaniel Atkinson, Harry Souttar, Cameron Burgess, Jordan Bos; Riley McGree, Aiden O'Neill, Jackson Irvine, Craig Goodwin; Mitchell Duke, Martin Boyle

Coach Stimac has a horses-for-courses approach to his team selection. As a result, it's tough to predict his choices. However, considering the choices he's dealt with to form the strongest team, the following choices seem likely.

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, who contends with Amrinder Singh and Vishal Kaith for goalkeeper's position, is the obvious selection for Coach Stimac. Australia will take advantage of their height and brilliance in set-pieces. Sandhu's long reach, experience, and excellence in aerial duels make him the easy choice for the position.

Another easy choice for the coach would have been the duo of Sandesh Jhingan and Anwar Ali in the center of the backline. However, with Ali still out with injury, Rahul Bheke should come in his place. Stimac praised the versatile defender following the Qatar defeat in November while adding that Lalchunnunga and Mehtab Singh are still work in progress.

Attack-minded Akash Mishra and Nikhil Poojary should respectively be deployed in the left-back and the right-back positions. Subhasish Bose, who has defend-first approach, is another option at left-back with his experience and wisdom.

Along with Ali, Igor Stimac is missing another key player in the form of defensive midfielder Jeakson Singh. The Kerala Blasters player couldn't cut due to an elbow surgery and only has recently returned to training during the ongoing Kalinga Super Cup.

In his absence, the coach could go for Suresh Singh Wangjam alongside Anirudh Thapa in the engine room. Even though Thapa can play well up front in the No. 10 position, the injury can see him start deeper.

Sunil Chhetri in the out-and-out striker position is another no-brainer selection. To support him from the back, Sahal Abdul Samad should be another easy choice if he is declared fit. However, the grapevine doubts his participation in the game. If not, Rahul Kannoly Praveen should take his place alongside Lallianzuala Chhangte and Naorem Mahesh Singh.