India at AFC Asian Cup: Why Assistant Coach Mahesh Gawli Important To Team's Defense, Explains Sandesh Jhingan

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The likes of Sandesh Jhingan, and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu among others will be in for a long night when India take on World No. 25 Australia in the opening Group B match of the AFC Asian Cup 2024 in Al Rayyan in three days. And if senior centre-back Jhingan is to be believed, the team's assistant coach Mahesh Gawli will be important to it.

The defensive solidity of the Indian team was praised last year as it conceded just nine goals in 14 games in 2023. However, Igor Stimac & men are hardly a defensive side and like to take the game to the opponent's half with a high defensive line, making it important for the likes of Jhingan, Rahul Bheke, and Akash Mishra among others to play with focus.

Sandesh Jhingan revealed that Mahesh Gawli deserves credit whenever India keep a clean sheet -- the side kept eight of them on the trot during the Intercontinental Cup and SAFF Championship last year -- adding how much of respect the former India centre-back holds in the dressing room.

"Mahesh bhai needs no introduction," Sandesh told the-aiff.com "He's been one of the stalwarts of the game during his days as a player, and now we learn so much from his experience. What he's done for the country is immense, it's just great to have him around. People should give him a lot of credit when they praise us for keeping clean sheets.

"I still remember the first time I met him (Mahesh Gawli), it was quite unique. It was 2013 or 2014, and I was yet to make my debut for India at that stage. Subrata bhai (Paul) first introduced me to him and said, this is Jhingan, he will be the next big defender and all that, and then he asked Mahesh bhai to give me his blessings. I bent down and took blessings from him. That's the kind of respect he commands from everyone around him."

Mahesh Gawli, who has joint-seventh most international appearances for the Blue Tigers, has been often respected for speaking with clarity during the press conference. 2023 saw him take charge of the team on multiple occasions as head coach Igor Stimac faced suspensions for red cards.

The 43-year-old retired footballer, however, never claimed credit for victories with him on the touchline in those games, including the SAFF Championship 2023 final against Kuwait, as he maintained that Igor Stimac has built this team and Gawli was just following the instructions.

Prior to taking over charge as the assistant coach of the national team in 2022, Gawli served as the head coach of the India U-20 team and assistant coach of AIFF side Indian Arrows. His association with the Indian team dates back to 1999 when he was young defender of FC Kochin. He won the LG Cup with U-23 India side in 2002 while winning multiple SAFF Cups.

A graduate of Tata Football Academy, the former defender played for East Bengal, where he also won his first league title and 2003 AFC ASEAN Club Championship in Jakarta. Gawli also won the National Football League and Federation Cup with Mahindra United before moving to Dempo, where Gawli won two I-League titles while forming a successful partnership with fellow centre-back Samir Naik. The Goa-born defender spent eight seasons at the club before calling it a day.