Injuries sideline Anirudh Thapa and Vikram Partap Ahead of India’s friendly against Malaysia

In the lead-up to their friendly match against Malaysia, India’s senior men’s football team faces a reshuffled lineup due to player injuries. Midfielder Anirudh Thapa and forward Vikram Partap Singh will miss the national team camp that begins in Hyderabad.

To cover for Thapa’s absence, Thoiba Singh has been called up.

Head Coach Manolo Márquez views the upcoming match as a valuable opportunity, both for India and Malaysia, to test their readiness for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. India’s team will officially assemble in Hyderabad on November 11, aligning with the FIFA International Window. The anticipated friendly is scheduled for November 18 at the GMC Balayogi Gachibowli Stadium.

India last played in Hyderabad in September, competing in the Intercontinental Cup. They secured a 0-0 draw against Mauritius but suffered a 0-3 loss to Syria, which was also Márquez's debut series with the national team. In October, India drew 1-1 with Vietnam in a friendly away match, a game where the team showed marked improvement, according to the coach.

"We will play in Hyderabad again against Malaysia, a team that, like us, is also in the fight to qualify for the Asian Cup. So, it will be a good test for both teams," said Márquez, highlighting the importance of the match.

The head coach has announced a 26-player list, featuring new potential debutants such as Hmingthanmawia Ralte from Mumbai City FC, Jithin MS from NorthEast United FC, Vibin Mohanan from Kerala Blasters FC, and Irfan Yadwad from Chennaiyin FC. Defender Sandesh Jhingan, who recently recovered from an ACL injury, is also making a return to the squad after a year-long absence.

“Our main goals are to ensure our position in Pot 1 for the Asian Cup Qualifiers, which we are close to achieving, and to be fully prepared for our first official qualifier match in March,” Márquez explained.

Currently ranked 125th with 1133 points, India holds a slight edge over Malaysia, ranked 133rd with 1113 points. Malaysia will face Laos in a friendly on November 14 before traveling to Hyderabad, giving both teams a final opportunity to strengthen their FIFA rankings ahead of the December 9 draw for the Asian Cup Final Round Qualifiers.

Reflecting on recent performances, Márquez noted positive progress, especially in October’s game against Vietnam. “We finished with a good feeling in Vietnam. The players adapted well and showed improvement with more training. Although games are crucial, we’re still at a stage where more training sessions are beneficial,” he added.

The Blue Tigers aim to close the year on a high note with a win against Malaysia before beginning their AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers journey on March 25, 2025.