Form over reputation: Khalid Jamil’s India squad for New Zealand friendlies has no guaranteed places -

The winds of change are blowing strongly through the Indian men’s national football team as Khalid Jamil, on Friday, named the 23-man roster that will travel to face New Zealand in two friendlies this month.

Considering how a squad makeover resulted in creditworthy performances against Panama, Brazil and Uruguay earlier this year, Jamil has decided to shuffle even further to try and challenge 88th-ranked New Zealand.

He has benefited from the revival of the Indian Super League, with several of its top performers over the last month earning a seat on the plane.

Notable omissions have been made, as only 12 players have been recalled from the previous squad (26 total), with five of the new 11 players joining the Indian camp for the first time.

Change in between the sticks

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu has been in India’s setup since 2011 and has gone on to become its second most-capped player with 91 appearances, only behind Sunil Chhetri (157). But costly and recurring errors, most recently against Brazil, show signs of wear and tear inside those gloves, prompting Jamil to look beyond the 6’6’’ custodian.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant’s Vishal Kaith has emerged as a worthy yet unseasoned successor. His exploits earlier this year helped the Mariners secure the IFA Shield, and they sit at the top of the ISL standings after five games and two clean sheets.

Odisha FC’s Hrithik Tiwari comes back into the squad after last being called up during India’s friendlies against Tajikistan in June, while 21-year-old Som Kumar, who plies his trade in Slovenia, is the only goalkeeper to keep his place.

Anwar Ali blow

Anwar Ali, over the years, has emerged as part of the rare breed of Indian ball-playing centre-backs and has fitted perfectly into Jamil’s latest 4-4-2 system, which used Anwar as a means to find wide players. However, the 26-year-old will play no part in the upcoming matches after suffering an injury during East Bengal’s 0-2 defeat against Al Seeb in the AFC Champions League Two.

Mehtab Singh, who can switch between centre-back and right-back, is expected to get more minutes alongside teenager Pramveer Singh and Bijoy Varghese, who joins the squad after captaining a second-string Indian side to a 3-2 win against Pakistan in the SAFF Championship 2026 on Thursday.

The World Cup over the summer suggests that New Zealand relies heavily on quick breaks and inverted movement down the flanks, which could leave Jamil heavily reliant on fullbacks Abhishek Singh Tekcham and Akash Mishra, who retained their places in the side after impressive performances in the previous window. Notably, Tekcham went toe-to-toe with Brazil’s Vinicius Jr while Akash put the ball on the plate for Ryan Williams to take the lead against Panama.

Meanwhile, 20-year-old Bengaluru FC full-back Ricky Meetei Haobam, who was ruled out of the last camp and replaced by Mehtab due to injury, could finally get his shot at donning India colours after technically receiving his maiden call-up.

Goals the need of the hour

Two goals across the three matches last month are respectable, considering the stark difference in rankings between India and the nations. However, when facing the All Whites, who are comparatively further down the pecking order, India will be expected to have a more thorough go at goal.

Anirudh Thapa and Ashique Kuruniyan are the only members of the ‘old(er) guard ’, and the latter is likely to man the wider areas on the left side of the pitch, while Jithin M.S. has warranted game time on the other end, with his lively start to the season. The 28-year-old has three goal involvements (two goals and one assist) in five games for NorthEast United and is back with the national team for the first time since last year’s CAFA Nations Cup.

Midfielders Tomba Singh Haobam and Lalrinliana Hnamte’s encouraging starts to the season with FC Goa and SC Delhi, respectively, have been rewarded with maiden call-ups to the senior side. While Tomba operates as an anchor, Hnamte, with his No. 8 profile, could be especially useful in attack, as seen by his one goal and one assist in four league games this season.

Meanwhile, Liston Colaco returns for the first time since March, and he will have to make the opportunity count after finding the back of the net just once in his last 18 league appearances.

Out front, Edmund Lalrindika, Manvir Singh and Ryan Williams have all proven they can work in Jamil’s system, leaving the spotlight on newcomers David Lalhlansanga and Muhammad Suhail. East Bengal forward David has been making his mark on the continental stage, netting twice in four games in the AFC Champions League Two. Suhail, on the other hand, has dominated the highlight reels with his silky wing play, but remains a raw talent that needs composure in the final third.

All said and done, it is fair to say that Jamil has been brave with his selection. Guaranteed places are a thing of the past, and now consistent performances are the currency to buy a ticket to the national side. And with recent performances proving that a step is being taken in the right direction, perhaps Jamil will be quietly confident that he and his men can make life difficult for New Zealand.