Bangladesh achieved their fourth win over India in football, securing their first victory in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers group. Shekh Morsalin’s goal in the 11th minute led to India’s 0-1 defeat, which placed them at the bottom of the group, alongside Singapore and Hong Kong, with one game remaining.
The Indian football team’s failure to avoid finishing bottom of a group including Bangladesh, Singapore, and Hong Kong is unacceptable, especially given their aspirations of becoming a strong competitor in Asia. The criticism of the coach and players is irrelevant in light of this disappointing outcome.
Gavin Lee’s Singapore will participate in the 2027 Asia’s premier football competition, contrasting India’s struggle within a failing football ecosystem. The outcomes for India and Bangladesh were determined before the match, with Bangladesh’s players appearing more prepared due to regular play in the BFL, while India’s players faced uncertainty regarding their roles in a domestic league that remains unstable.
A potential win in international football could have eased India’s football challenges. The excitement surrounding former Australia international Ryan Williams’ debut for India was quickly dashed when the AIFF failed to secure FIFA approvals by the deadline after receiving the NOC from Football Australia.
Williams’s reconsideration of his decision remains uncertain, yet he can find inspiration in Hamza Choudhury’s exceptional performance. Choudhury shone in the first half, showcasing his defensive skills by clearing a potential goal and demonstrating impressive control with a near miss. His talents were supported by a solid Bangladesh team.
Williams and any potential future at OCI may struggle without consistent development of top-tier footballers. Khalid Jamil’s cautious approach during the match highlighted a failure to meet expectations, despite his pre-match promises of a reset and full commitment.
Jamil’s decision to exclude Apuia and Sunil Chhetri from his squad and to rely on a largely unchanged team ultimately led to India’s failure, as demonstrated in the second half of the match.
India conceded a goal during a counterattack initiated from their corner, involving a low cross from Rakib Hossain that Shekh Morsalin scored after capitalizing on a hesitation from goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. The text suggests that had Akash Mishra and Gurpreet been sharper from regular club play, the situation might have been different.
Jamil’s defensive strategy is criticized for its timing, as he only implemented a complete reset to leverage India’s young talent in the second half. Mohammed Sanan’s impressive skills and speed troubled Bangladesh, raising questions about why Jamil did not start him earlier, given that Sanan was a regular player under Jamil at Jamshedpur FC last season.
India’s football team, led by Sanan, Brison Fernandes, and Mahesh Singh, faced a disappointing 0-1 loss in Dhaka, a result seen as unjust considering their performance. The irony lay in Jamil’s cautious approach affecting the team’s on-field efforts, combined with the AIFF’s unrealistic RFP jeopardizing the ISL off the field. Despite good intentions from the coach, players, and officials, India ended up finishing bottom of their group, which they were expected to win.
