India Announce 28-Player Squad for Thailand Friendly and AFC Asian Cup Hong Kong Qualifier

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The Indian men's national football team, under newly-appointed head coach Manolo Márquez, is set to embark on its international campaign with a friendly against Thailand on June 4.

All 28 players currently training at the national camp in Kolkata have been named for the trip to Thailand, as confirmed by Márquez on Wednesday.

The Blue Tigers have been training in Kolkata since May 19 in preparation for the upcoming fixtures. The squad will depart for Thailand later this evening. Their first test will be against the Thai national side at the Thammasat Stadium in Pathum Thani, with the match kicking off at 6:00 PM IST.

Following the friendly, the Indian contingent will fly to Hong Kong on June 5 to continue preparations for their crucial AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round encounter, scheduled for June 10 at 5:30 PM IST.

In Kolkata, the national camp saw a mix of intense training and competitive practice matches. The team went through six days of structured training, featuring gym work in the mornings and on-field sessions in the evenings.

They also played two friendlies to sharpen their form. On May 26, India beat Santosh Trophy champions Bengal 2-1, with goals from Brandon Fernandes and Ashique Kuruniyan. The following day, they secured a convincing 3-0 victory over North 24 Parganas, courtesy of strikes by Sunil Chhetri, Chinglensana Singh, and Udanta Singh.

The squad comprises a strong blend of youth and experience. Veterans like Chhetri, Jhingan, and Brandon will be joined by emerging names such as Suhail Bhat, Ayush Chhetri, and Edmund Lalrindika.

India's 28-member squad

Goalkeepers: Hrithik Tiwari, Vishal Kaith, Gurmeet Singh, Amrinder Singh

Defenders: Roshan Singh, Rahul Bheke, Chinglensana Singh, Anwar Ali, Boris Singh, Jhingan, Asish Rai, Subhasish Bose, Mehtab Singh, Abhishek Singh

Midfielders: Suresh, Mahesh Naorem, Ayush Chhetri, Udanta, Apuia, Liston, Ashique, Brandon, Nikhil Prabhu

Forwards: Chhetri, Edmund Lalrindika, Manvir, Suhail Bhat, Chhangte

Coaching staff includes assistant coaches Mahesh Gawali and Benito Montalvo, goalkeeping coach Marc Gamon, and strength coach José Carlos Barroso.