Wim Koevermanes names new-look India squad for Philippines and Nepal friendlies

India coach Wim Koevermans has picked a new-look squad for the upcoming international friendlies against Philippines and Nepal later this month. Ten players who were part of the SAFF Championship squad have been left out while five uncapped players have been included in the 21-man squad.

The major talking point though is the exclusion of IMG-Reliance contracted players including goalkeeper Subrata Pal, reigning AIFF Player of the Year Syed Rahim Nabi and defender Gouramangi Singh, who has been left out of the national team squad for the first time since making his international debut in the 2007 Nehru Cup.

Last month Koevermans had stated his concerns surrounding the players who are contracted with IMG-R as they haven’t been in action for months and now their absence gives the India squad a very inexperienced look.

Former India under-23 international and Churchill Brothers goalkeeper Arindam Bhattacharya is among the five uncapped players. But the real inexperience is in defence as the likes of Nicolau Colaco, Aibhorlang Khongjee and Narayan Das have been called up to the senior team for the very first time.

Sporting Clube wide midfielder Victorino Fernandes is the other uncapped player while CK Vineeth, Lalrindika Ralte and Clifford Miranda have been recalled in what looks like a familiar midfield. Only three forwards have been included but Jeje Lalpekhlua could only find a place among the standbys.

India will face the Philippines on November 15 and Nepal on November 19 with venue likely to be Siliguri or Bangalore.

GOALKEEPERS: Karanjit Singh (Salgaocar SC), Subhashish Roychowdhury (Dempo SC), Arindam Bhattacharya (Churchill Brothers).

DEFENDERS: Denzil Franco (Churchill Brothers), Nicolau Colaco (Salgaocar SC), Arnab Mondal (East Bengal), Aibhorlang Khongjee (Mohun Bagan), Raju Gaikwad (East Bengal), Gurjinder Kumar (Pune FC), Narayan Das (Dempo SC).

MIDFIELDERS: Mehtab Hossain (East Bengal), Lenny Rodrigues (Churchill Brothers), Lalrindika Ralte (East Bengal), Arata Izumi (Pune FC), Francis Fernandes (Salgaocar SC), Clifford Miranda (Dempo SC), CK Vineeth (United SC), Victorino Fernandes (Sporting Clube de Goa).

FORWARDS: Dawson Fernandes (Sporting Clube de Goa), Sunil Chhetri, Robin Singh (both Bengaluru FC).

STANDBYS: Shilton Paul (Mohun Bagan), Rowilson Rodrigues (Mohun Bagan), Gurwinder Singh (East Bengal), Shouvik Ghosh (Mohun Bagan), Rocus Lamare (Salgaocar), Shylo Malswamtulunga (East Bengal), Tsewang Karma (Salgaocar), Jeje Lalpekhlua (Dempo), Denson Devdas (Mohun Bagan).