India’s newly appointed head coach, Khalid Jamil, did not consider veteran footballer Sunil Chhetri as he named a 35-man probable for the Blue Tigers’ preparatory camp ahead of the CAFA Nations Cup 2025, starting August 29 in Tajikistan.
The Indian camp will begin on August 16, with 22 players reporting directly, while the remaining 13 are expected to join after their Durand Cup 2025 campaigns conclude with their respective clubs.
Chhetri, who bade farewell to international football in June 2024 after a FIFA World Cup qualifier against Kuwait in Kolkata, had come out of retirement in March 2025 at the request of India’s former head coach, Manolo Marquez, as India struggled to score goals and find a replacement for the talismanic footballer. However, the 41-year-old striker managed to score only one goal in four matches since his comeback. In his career, Chhetri scored 95 goals for India-the most by any player.
Under the new regime of Indian coach Khalid Jamil, Chhetri did not find favour, as the former Aizawl FC and NorthEast United coach selected Irfan Yadwad, Vikram Partap Singh, Rahim Ali, and Jamshedpur FC’s Manvir Singh as centre-forward options for India.
The coach also called in Sunil Benchamin, the 32-year-old Army Red defender, who impressed in the Durand Cup group stage against Jamshedpur FC. Benchamin, an army personnel, previously played for Diamond Harbour FC and TRAU FC but has never featured in the ISL or I-League.
Among the first-timers called up to the national camp are Alex Saji and goalkeeper Albino Gomes. Several familiar names have also been recalled, including Akash Mishra (after a long injury lay-off), Rahul KP, Danish Farooq, and Vikram Partap Singh. Rahim Ali and Irfan Yadwad return after missing recent camps, while winger Jithin MS earns his much-anticipated first call-up.
India have been drawn in Group B along with Tajikistan, Iran, and Afghanistan. India will open their campaign against hosts Tajikistan on August 29, followed by clashes against Iran on September 1 and Afghanistan on September 4. The third-place play-off and final will be held on September 8, in Hisor and Tashkent (Uzbekistan), respectively.
Players who have reported to Khalid Jamil’s first camp as India coach:
Goalkeepers: Amrinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Hrithik Tiwari.
Defenders: Akash Mishra, Alex Saji, Boris Singh Thangjam, Chinglensana Singh Konsham, Hmingthanmawia Ralte, Rahul Bheke, Roshan Singh Naorem, Sandesh Jhingan, Sunil Benchamin.
Midfielders: Ashique Kuruniyan, Danish Farooq Bhat, Nikhil Prabhu, Rahul Kannoly Praveen, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Udanta Singh Kumam.
Forwards: Irfan Yadwad, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Rahim Ali, Vikram Partap Singh.