Subir sarkar

The CAFA Nations Cup: It’s a new start for the Indian senior men’s national team under head coach Khalid Jamil, who began his first camp on Independence Day. Six days and five training sessions into the new coach’s system, the Blue Tigers’ old stripes have begun to blend in with the new.

There are four first-timers in Jamil’s camp of 25 players – defenders Alex Saji, Sunil Benchamin, Muhammed Uvais, and forward Manvir Singh. While he continues to train the current 25 players, the India head coach has kept a keen eye on the ongoing Durand Cup, frequently calling up players as and when they are made available by their respective clubs, as the Blue Tigers prepare for the CAFA Nations Cup 2025.

“My doors are always open to every player,” Jamil said. “The CAFA Nations Cup will be an excellent opportunity for us to test our players against quality teams. Some players may not be in the squad right now because I want to try a few other less-tested ones, but rest assured, we will bring our best available squad for the Asian Cup qualifiers.”