Signing you in

The 26-man group has an average age of 26.24 years. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, 34, is the oldest, while 19-year-old Pramveer is the youngest. There is plenty of experience in between, but also Mohammed Sanan, Macarton Nickson and Som Kumar, all being given a chance to push their way further into the senior picture.

India meet Panama in Bengaluru on September 26 before Brazil and Uruguay roll into Kolkata on October 3 and 6. The camp starts on September 14, giving Jamil around two weeks to get his ideas across before the fun begins.

And there is plenty to chew on in this squad. Khalid Jamil has made some very bold calls in India's squad selection. (Photo: AIFF)

Vishal Kaith, Sandesh Jhingan, Rahul Bheke, Jeakson Singh and Liston Colaco are among the bigger names left out. Suresh Singh Wangjam, Roshan Singh Naorem, Hrithik Tiwari and Chinglensana Singh Konsham are on standby.

Some of those calls are straightforward. Others are harder to ignore. Put together, though, they suggest Jamil is picking for the demands of these particular games rather than simply going with the biggest names on the team sheet.

India squad for Uruguay, Panama and Brazil matches: Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Albino Gomes, Som Kumar, Prabhsukhan Singh GillDefenders: Akash Mishra, Abhishek Singh Tekcham, Bijoy Varghese, Anwar Ali, Jay Gupta, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Pramveer, Ricky Meetei HaobamMidfielders: Macarton Nickson, Ashique Kuruniyan, Farukh Choudhary, Anirudh Thapa, Lalengmawia Ralte, Sahal Abdul Samad, Mohammed Sanan, Ricky ShabongForwards: Irfan Yadwad, Edmund Lalrindika, Rahim Ali, Manvir Singh, Ryan Williams, Vikram Partap SinghTHE BIG NAMES LEFT OUT

Let's start with Vishal Kaith, because his absence is probably the hardest one to explain purely on current domestic form.

The Mohun Bagan goalkeeper has put together an excellent couple of seasons. In the 2024-25 ISL campaign, Kaith kept 15 clean sheets in 26 appearances, setting a league record, while also winning the Golden Glove after making 71 saves and recording a 79 per cent save percentage. He was part of the Mohun Bagan side that won both the League Shield and ISL Cup, and even in 2025-26 he remained highly effective, keeping five clean sheets in 13 league appearances. Vishal Kaith's absence from the squad was a big surprise. (Photo: Instagram)

His international story makes the omission even more curious. Kaith returned to the India setup in March 2025 after a 2,377-day gap between appearances, the longest such wait in the history of the men's national team. He kept a clean sheet against the Maldives on his return. So, if this is not a judgement on his ability, it is clearly a decision to look at the alternatives.

Then comes Sandesh Jhingan, arguably India's most obvious defensive leader after the retirement of Sunil Chhetri. Jhingan has spent years dealing with the physical side of international football and has been one of the senior voices in the dressing room. His absence means India lose that experience, but it also gives Jamil a chance to see whether the next group of centre-backs can take on some of that responsibility. Jhingan, one of this Indian team's senior player and a leader, was snubbed. (Photo: Instagram)

Rahul Bheke is another understandable omission. At 35, his experience remains valuable, but the modern international game is becoming increasingly unforgiving towards defenders who cannot recover quickly. Against Brazil, that problem would be magnified rather than hidden.

Jeakson Singh is perhaps the more interesting midfield omission. He has been one of India's regular midfield choices for years and gives the team defensive discipline, particularly when India have to spend long spells without the ball. His absence gives Ricky Shabong, Macarton Nickson and others a chance to offer Jamil something different in the middle.

The winger has not suddenly become a bad footballer. But his recent numbers explain why Jamil might have wanted to look elsewhere. Colaco scored four goals in 27 ISL appearances in 2024-25 and just one in 13 appearances in 2025-26. His creative contribution remained useful, including four assists in 2025-26, but the gap between his ability and his end product has become increasingly difficult to ignore.

That is particularly relevant when India's opponents are going to be Brazil and Uruguay. Against teams of that level, you may get one or two good attacking moments. The question becomes whether you finish them. Liston's dip in the last two seasons have now transformed into a national team snub. (Photo: Instagram)

His absence, therefore, looks more like a form call than a permanent rejection. Jamil is giving Manvir Singh, Ryan Williams, Vikram Partap Singh, Rahim Ali and Irfan Yadwad the chance to make a case for themselves, while Colaco will know that a strong start to the new season could put him straight back into the conversation.THE YOUTH QUESTION

If Jamil really wants to push the next generation, the answer is sitting right in front of him.

India's U23 side gave plenty of reasons for optimism in the AFC U23 Asian Cup qualifiers in 2025. They beat Bahrain 2-0, went down narrowly to hosts Qatar and then hammered Brunei 6-0. Six points put India second in Group H, while their nine goals were not enough to get them through. They finished fifth among the group runners-up on goal difference.

The qualification miss hurt, but the performances were hard to ignore.

Vibin Mohanan was the star of the show against Brunei, scoring a hat-trick with two goals coming inside the opening seven minutes. Mohammed Aimen added two more after coming off the bench, while Ayush Dev Chhetri also found the net. Parthib Sundar Gogoi stretched defences from the wing and Bikash Yumnam anchored the back line.

Vibin has already made the jump to senior football, earning his India debut against Malaysia in November 2024. Aimen, meanwhile, is still waiting for his first senior cap despite playing extensively for the U23 side and receiving senior camp call-ups. Vibin has already shown immense talent, worthy of an India call-up. (Photo: Instagram)

Jamil has already brought Mohammed Sanan, Macarton Nickson and Ricky Meetei Haobam into the senior squad. So why stop there?

That is the one area where the squad could perhaps have gone a little further. If this window is partly about finding the next generation, Vibin and Aimen have certainly done enough in that U23 campaign to earn another look.

They do not all need to start against Brazil. A few minutes, a start against Panama or simply training alongside the senior group could tell Jamil plenty about whether their game can handle the jump in speed, strength and decision-making.

If this is a rebuild, Jamil might as well find out how far the young ones can run with it.WHERE THE FRIENDLIES MATTER

There is one twist to this international window that has quietly split opinion across Indian football.

These three friendlies were never supposed to be the main event. India were meant to play in the FIFA ASEAN Cup, but its latter stages clashed with Brazil's visit, leading the AIFF to back the glamour fixtures instead. Bhaichung Bhutia has questioned whether the estimated Rs 50–70 crore being spent on the Brazil match could be better used on grassroots football.

He has a point. Tournament football gives young players the grind of recovering quickly, chasing points and finding ways through difficult games.

But with these matches happening anyway, Jamil has to squeeze every bit out of them. Make sure they are remembered for more than the posters.

Take Pramveer, the 19-year-old NorthEast United defender. Facing Vinicius Jr will test more than his pace. Can he hold his line, manage the winger's movement and resist the temptation to dive in when Vinicius starts running at him?

Macarton Nickson, also at NorthEast United, faces a different problem. Bruno Guimaraes is exactly the sort of midfielder who makes a young player work without the ball. He will drift into the pockets between India's midfield and defence, dragging markers with him and looking for the pass that opens everything up.

Uruguay bring a different headache. Federico Valverde can turn a loose ball into a transition, Darwin Nunez will attack the space behind the defence and Ronald Araujo brings plenty of muscle to every duel. If Brazil stretches India, Uruguay will try to squeeze them.

Panama could arguably be the most useful attacking test. India should have more of the ball, giving Jamil a chance to see whether this group can do something with it. Can the midfield break lines? Can the wingers isolate defenders? Can India get runners beyond the striker instead of simply moving the ball from side to side?

The results will make the headlines. Jamil needs to find out who can handle the jump.- EndsPublished By: Debodinna ChakrabortyPublished On: Sep 1, 2026 13:05 IST