AFC Asian Cup 2023: Coach Igor Stimac names India's 26-member squad in Qatar

Head coach Igor Stimac announced a 26-member football squad for the AFC Asian Cup 2023 in Qatar. India have been drawn in Group B and will take on Australia, Uzbekistan and Syria in Qatar where they recently played the FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

Familiar names Sunil Chhetri, Sandesh Jhinghan and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu were part of the 26-member squad. Central defender Anwar Ali missed out from the final squad due to an ankle injury.

India are all set to arrive in Doha on December 30 and prepare in an extensive camp for the AFC Asian Cup. This will be the team's fifth appearance in the prestigious continental tournament.

India's squad for the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023

Goalkeepers: Amrinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Vishal Kaith.

Defenders: Akash Mishra, Lalchungnunga, Mehtab Singh, Nikhil Poojary, Pritam Kotal, Rahul Bheke, Sandesh Jhingan, Subhasish Bose.

Midfielders: Anirudh Thapa, Brandon Fernandes, Deepak Tangri, Lalengmawia Ralte, Liston



Colaco, Naorem Mahesh Singh, Sahal Abdul Samad, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Udanta Singh.

Forwards: Ishan Pandita, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Manvir Singh, Rahul Kannoly Praveen, Sunil Chhetri, Vikram Partap Singh.

India's Group B fixtures at the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023

January 13, 2024: Australia vs India (17:00 IST, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan)

January 18, 2024: India vs Uzbekistan (20:00 IST, Ahmad bin Ali Stadium, Al Rayyan)

January 23, 2024: Syria vs India (17:00 IST, Al Bayt Stadium, Al Khor)

Head coach Igor Stimac spoke about the challenges of playing against stronger opponents in the AFC Asian Cup.

"All three of our opponents are very good technically, physically stronger with great speed. So, we are not going to have much difference in approach to all these three games, I can tell you that. We need to check the fitness level of our players at present and see how much we can develop in the next two weeks," Stimac said, as quoted by the AIFF.