India head coach Igor Stimac has released the 50-man shortlist for the players who could make it to the final squad for the AFC Asian Cup 2023 in January. The list includes five goalkeepers, and fifteen forwards, midfielders and defenders each. Of the 50, 25 will be chosen to travel to Doha, Qatar, when the team starts preparing for the tournament at the end of December.
The Blue Tigers will face Australia in their opening fixture on 13 January, followed by Uzbekistan on January 18 and Syria on the 23rd. They head into the tournament as the lowest ranked side in Group B, coming in at 102 on the latest FIFA rankings. However, they will be expected to make the Round of 16, since the top three sides from four out of six groups will make the cut.
India name 50-strong probables list for the 2023 Asian Cup
Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, Vishal Kaith, Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem, Gurmeet Singh Chahal.
Defenders: Naorem Roshan Singh, Bikash Yumnam, Lalchungnunga, Sandesh Jhingan, Nikhil Poojary, Chinglensana Singh, Pritam Kotal, Hormipam Ruivah, Subhasish Bose, Asish Rai, Akash Mishra, Mehtab Singh, Rahul Bheke, Narender Gahlot, Amey Ranawade.
Midfielders: Suresh Singh Wangjam, Rohit Kumar, Brandon Fernandes, Udanta Singh Kumam, Yasir Mohammad, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Anirudh Thapa, Sahal Abdul Samad, Glan Martins, Liston Colaco, Deepak Tangri, Lalengmawia Ralte, Vinit Rai, Ninthoinganba Meetei, Naorem Mahesh Singh.
Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Rahim Ali, Farukh Choudhary, Nandhakumar Sekar, Siva Sakthi Narayanan, Rahul KP, Ishan Pandita, Manvir Singh, Kiyan Nassiri, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Gurkirat Singh, Vikram Partap Singh, Bipin Singh Thounaojam, Parthib Gogoi, Jerry Mawihmingthanga.
The players not called up for the Indian national team will have a chance to impress in the Kalinga Super Cup, which will go on during the Asian Cup. The winning club will get a chance to play at the AFC Cup next season, and it will be interesting to see how clubs approach it this season, with the national team players ruled out.
