DHAKA, Bangladesh — The Indian men’s national football team, known as the Blue Tigers, arrived in Dhaka on Saturday ahead of their AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round match against Bangladesh. Though both teams are already out of the running for qualification, players say the longstanding rivalry ensures a fiercely contested game.
“It won’t change the competitiveness or the fierceness of the game. It’s always a big game for them and the people of Bangladesh because it’s against India,” goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu said. Sandhu, who has faced Bangladesh three times at the senior level, stressed the need for mental and physical preparation.
“It might not be the nicest game to watch. It might be scrappy, and we as a team need to be ready for any challenge. We need to be tough out there when we face them,” he added.
Defender Sandesh Jhingan, who captained India in the reverse fixture in Shillong in March, echoed the sentiment. “Our expectations are very simple. Play to our full potential and stick to the system for as long as we can during the game. If we can do that, the rest will follow. We’ll work hard and hopefully get a win this time,” Jhingan said.
Winger Lallianzuala Chhangte is the only player in the current squad with prior experience playing in Bangladesh for the senior national team; he was part of the 2018 SAFF Championship and scored a goal during that tournament.
Both Jhingan and Sandhu also have club and youth team experience in Bangladesh. Jhingan recalled playing at Dhaka’s National Stadium during the AFC U23 Championship qualifiers in 2015 and a 2017 AFC Cup match with Bengaluru FC. “The people of Bangladesh love watching football, and they support their team really well,” he said.
Sandhu, who was part of India’s U23 squad for the 2010 South Asian Games, noted Bangladesh’s growing investment in football. “Being our neighbors, the team here wants to do well against us and give us a tough time. But that was a long time ago. Bangladesh have developed their infrastructure and invested heavily. Their love for football has grown, and the national team is also doing better.”
The Indian side arrived under tight security at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport, coordinated by the Bangladesh Football Federation and local authorities. The Blue Tigers are operating within a security bubble but report no issues since their arrival.
“I would like to thank the Bangladesh federation for the warm hospitality,” Jhingan said. “We, as athletes, are only focused on putting our best foot forward. Sport is something that unites people, and I hope this game can also unite and bring a good feeling.”
Sandhu added, “We were aware of the domestic situation here. It’s obviously not ideal. But since arriving yesterday, everything has been very well organized. We just need to focus on what we have to do on the pitch.”
India held an activation session Sunday morning and a full training session in the afternoon. They will train officially at the National Stadium on Monday. The match is set to kick off at 7:30 p.m. IST on Tuesday and will be streamed live on FanCode. (Source: IANS)
