What changes could Igor Stimac make to Qatar vs India starting lineup?

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India vs Qatar: The Indian football team dropped the ball when they ended their do-or-die match against Kuwait at home in a goalless draw. They will now play their last match of their World Cup qualifiers second round against Qatar with their hopes of progressing to the third round hanging by a thread.

However, considering the situation they're in, that thread is quite thin. In their five group stage matches, they only managed to get a single win against Kuwait back in November.

Their best bet to qualify for the third round would have been getting wins against lower-ranked Afghanistan.

They dropped the ball there too, and how! They drew one and lost the other match against Afghanistan. Now, with five points from five games, they have to get at least a win and even if they get a draw, they will have to keep looking to their neighbours for a draw in the Kuwait vs Afghanistan match.

The Blue Tigers have now gone seven games without a win. Additionally, they have now lost their captain Sunil Chhetri who played his last match for India last day against Kuwait. Hence, head coach Igor Stimac will be expected to be making a change or two to the starting lineup.

The most important question in everyone's mind right now is who could be taking the lead in the final third now that Sunil Chhetri is no longer in the equation. Lallianzuala Chhangte is surely one of the best options they have on their hand. Coach Igor Stimac also brought on Rahim Ali against Kuwait at half-time.

Hence, they both could start the match against Qatar in Doha. They've already declared that Gurpreet Singh Sandhu will be the one with the captain's armband. The starting lineup could otherwise remain the same.

India squad

Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, and Vishal Kaith

Defenders: Anwar Ali, Jay Gupta, Mehtab Singh, Narender, Nikhil Poojary, and Rahul Bheke

Midfielders: Anirudh Thapa, Brandon Fernandes, Edmund Lalrindika, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Liston Colaco, Mahesh Singh Naorem, Nandhakumar Sekar, Sahal Abdul Samad, and Suresh Singh Wangjam

Forwards: Manvir Singh, Rahim Ali, Vikram Partap Singh, and David Lalhlansanga