# Khalid Jamil names 23-player India squad for New Zealand friendlies
_India coach Khalid Jamil has selected a 23-man squad for the two November friendlies against New Zealand, with Gurpreet Singh Sandhu dropped._

- Publisher: Apex Sports News (https://apexsportsnews.in)
- Canonical URL: https://apexsportsnews.in/news/khalid-jamil-names-23-player-india-squad-for-new-zealand-friendlies
- Author: Atul, Editor (https://apexsportsnews.in/author/atul)
- Published: 2026-11-06T21:17:46.000Z
- Section: Football > International Football
- Topics: New Zealand, AIFF, India national football team, Khalid Jamil
## Summary

India head coach Khalid Jamil announced a 23-player squad for the New Zealand friendlies on Friday, November 6. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was omitted, while Hrithik Tiwari, Som Kumar and Vishal Kaith are the goalkeepers.

## Key takeaways

- Khalid Jamil named a 23-player India squad on Friday, November 6
- Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was dropped from the squad
- Hrithik Tiwari, Som Kumar and Vishal Kaith are the goalkeeping options
- India play New Zealand on November 12 in Auckland and November 15 in Christchurch

## Article

India head coach Khalid Jamil named a 23-player squad for two friendlies against New Zealand during the November FIFA International Match Window on Friday, November 6, according to NDTV Sports and Hindustan Times.

The Blue Tigers will face New Zealand on November 12 at the Go Media Stadium in Auckland at 11:30 IST, and on November 15 at the One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch at 08:30 IST, according to the All India Football Federation.

## Goalkeeper dropped and replacements named

Veteran goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was left out of India’s 23-member squad for the upcoming friendlies, India Today reported. India have instead named Hrithik Tiwari, Som Kumar and Vishal Kaith as their three goalkeeping options for the two matches in November.

## Full squad and SAFF Championship changes

The 23-player squad includes defenders Abhishek Singh Tekcham, Akash Mishra, Bijoy Varghese, Jay Gupta, Mehtab Singh, Pramveer, Ricky Meetei Haobam and Roshan Singh Naorem. Midfielders are Anirudh Thapa, Ashique Kuruniyan, Jithin MS, Lalremtluanga Fanai, Lalrinliana Hnamte and Tomba Singh Haobam. Forwards are David Lalhlansanga, Edmund Lalrindika, Liston Colaco, Manvir Singh, Muhammad Suhail and Ryan Williams.

## SAFF Championship squad adjustments

The squad includes three players named in Naushad Moosa’s SAFF Championship 2026 squad: Bijoy Varghese, Muhammad Suhail and Liston Colaco. They will not continue in the tournament in Dhaka and will instead link up with Jamil’s squad heading to New Zealand.

Farukh Choudhary, Noufal PN and Hmingthanmawia Ralte have been released from the SAFF Championship squad and will return to their club, Mumbai City FC. Ronney Kharbudon will not travel to Dhaka due to an injury.

## Preparation and coach’s comments

The New Zealand-bound Blue Tigers’ squad will assemble in Bengaluru on Saturday, November 7, and will have a training session on Sunday before departing for Auckland later in the night.

Khalid Jamil said, “New Zealand are also a World Cup-playing nation and a strong opponent, and these two matches will be a good test for us away from home. ”

## About India and Khalid Jamil

The India national football team represents India in international football and is governed by the All India Football Federation under FIFA’s global jurisdiction, in Asia by the Asian Football Confederation and in South Asia by the South Asian Football Federation, both co-founded by the AIFF.

Khalid Ahmed Jamil is a professional football manager and former player who is currently the head coach of the India national team. Born in Kuwait, he represented the Indian national team on 40 occasions and retired early in 2009 due to injuries.

He spent most of his playing career at Mahindra United, Air India and Mumbai.

### India squad for New Zealand friendlies

| Position | Players |
| --- | --- |
| Goalkeepers | Hrithik Tiwari, Som Kumar, Vishal Kaith |
| Defenders | Abhishek Singh Tekcham, Akash Mishra, Bijoy Varghese, Jay Gupta, Mehtab Singh,… |
| Midfielders | Anirudh Thapa, Ashique Kuruniyan, Jithin MS, Lalremtluanga Fanai, Lalrinliana… |
| Forwards | David Lalhlansanga, Edmund Lalrindika, Liston Colaco, Manvir Singh, Muhammad… |

### Related on Apex Sports News

- [SAFF Championship 2026: India begin title defence against Pakistan in Dhaka](https://apexsportsnews.in/news/saff-championship-2026-india-begin-title-defence-against-pakistan-in-dhaka)

### Sources

- [NDTV Sports](https://sports.ndtv.com/football/india-head-coach-khalid-jamil-names-23-player-squad-for-new-zealand-friendlies-12294301#publisher=newsstand)
- [India Today](https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/football/story/gurpreet-singh-sandhu-dropped-india-squad-new-zealand-friendlies-khalid-jamil-3034152-2026-11-06)
- [Hindustan Times](https://www.hindustantimes.com/sports/football/india-confirm-u-23-squad-for-new-zealand-friendlies-101793983889060.html)
- [Photo: Footballmasala, CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wikimedia Commons)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Khalid_Jamil_At_Mumbai_FC_Pre_Match_Conference_(cropped).JPG)
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