India midfield duo Anirudh Thapa and Sahal Abdul Samad need to step up to boost team performance

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The Indian football team has been plagued by a lack of creativity in the midfield. Especially their performance in their recent match against Kuwait comes to mind. Despite having talented players like Anirudh Thapa and Sahal Abdul Samad starting the match, the duo failed to make a significant impact.

As a result, India failed to control the midfield and not only saw many chances go to waste, but also Kuwait penetrating the gaps oh-so-easily. This issue has been a recurring problem for the team, and if not addressed, it could cost them crucial matches, like Qatar vs India in the future.

As per the renowned journalist Marcus Mergulhao, the coach is already very unhappy with both Sahal and Thapa’s performances. With Sunil Chhetri not on the ground to lead the Blue Tigers, Igor Stimac was already headed to make a number of changes to the starting lineup. However, it seems Sahal and Thapa could be benched as well in the meantime.

The coach could start Jeakson Singh and Brandon Fernandes in their places for the upcoming Qatar vs India. Considering both Jeakson and Brandon are also exceptional, Sahal and Thapa will need to step up not only for the Indian team but also for more playing time in the Indian jersey.

It's a shame cause Thapa and Samad, both Mohun Bagan players, have the ability to turn a game on its head with their exceptional skills. There have been many matches where they have shown their exceptional skills for the Mariners even in this last season alone. Hence, expecting more from them in the Indian jersey comes naturally.

However, their performance in their recent India vs Kuwait match was subpar to say the least. The duo's inability to create scoring opportunities and control the tempo of the game left India struggling to get a lead against Kuwait even though Kuwait were shambolic in front of the goal as well. India should've taken the chance, but they clearly failed.