India predicted XI for AFC Asian Cup 2023

Missing key players like Jeakson Singh and Anwar Ali, it will be interesting to see how Igor Stimac shapes his team at the Asian Cup.

FILE - Indian football team players celebrate after winning the final football match of SAFF Championship 2023 against Kuwait at Kanteerava Stadium, in Bengaluru, on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. | Photo Credit: PTI

India will kick off its AFC Asian Cup 2024 campaign against Australia on January 13 at the Ahmad bin Ali Stadium in Qatar.

Placed in Group B, the Blue Tigers, apart from Australia, have been paired with Syria And Uzbekistan.

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There has been a lot of speculation about how Igor Stimac will shape his starting XI since the final 26-member squad was announced. Missing key players like Jeakson Singh and Anwar Ali, Stimac will not have his ideal starting XI in the tournament.

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu seems like the most obvious choice between the sticks. A veteran for the Blue Tigers at goal, Sandhu has big match experience, which can come in handy against what will surely be challenging opponents for Stimac’s men.

Anwar Ali would have been an automatic choice in the back four, but his injury means that he will miss out on the tournament. Thus, it is likely that Stimac will ask Rahul Bheke to partner Sandesh Jhingan in centre-back. Akash Mishra and Nikhil Poojary will be the obvious choices for left-back and right-back.

Jeakson will be a big miss in midfield, and India is bound to miss his capabilities as a defensive midfielder. In his absence, the Croat can opt for a double pivot of Lalengmawia Ralte and Suresh Singh Wangjam.

While Sunil Chhetri will most probably play the No. 9 role, it would be interesting to see the players who would operate behind him. Sahal Abdul Samad would have been the most obvious choice but with him being ruled out, at least for the first match against Australia, Anirudh Thapa would be the obvious choice to operate in the No. 10 role.

On the left wing, Stimac would prefer the services of Naorem Mahesh Singh, a player who had burst on the scene, while the right wing would be occupied by the dependable Lallianzuala Chhangte.

India Predicted XI

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu(GK); Akash Mishra, Sandesh Jhingan, Rahul Bheke, Nikhil Poojary; Lalengmawia Ralte, Suresh Singh Wangjam; Naorem Mahesh Singh, Anirudh Thapa, Lallianzuala Chhangte; Sunil Chhetri (C).