November 6, 2026 | Playmaker India
A new challenge on the road. 🇮🇳✈️🇳🇿 Meet the 23 #BlueTigers heading to New Zealand. 🔗 Read more: https://t.co/C4QDaB4qZt #IndianFootball https://t.co/w9uVnnrSli
— Indian Football (@IndianFootball) November 6, 2026
The Indian men's national football team has announced its 23-member squad for the upcoming FIFA international friendlies against New Zealand, with several changes also affecting India's ongoing SAFF Championship 2026 campaign in Bangladesh.
Three players — Bijoy Varghese, Muhammad Suhail and Liston Colaco — will leave the SAFF Championship squad to join Khalid Jamil's senior national team for the two international friendlies in New Zealand.
Meanwhile, Farukh Choudhary, Noufal PN and Hmingthanmawia Ralte have been released from the SAFF Championship squad and will return to their club, Mumbai City FC.
Defender Ronney Kharbudon will also miss the trip to Dhaka due to injury.
Seven Players Affected by SAFF Squad Changes
The latest developments mean that India's SAFF Championship plans have undergone significant adjustments.
Bijoy Varghese, Muhammad Suhail and Liston Colaco were initially named in Naushad Moosa's squad for the regional tournament. However, the trio will now be part of the senior team's preparations for the New Zealand friendlies.
Their departure could be particularly significant for India's attacking options, with Liston Colaco and Muhammad Suhail offering different qualities in the final third.
The return of Farukh Choudhary, Noufal PN and Hmingthanmawia Ralte to Mumbai City FC further reduces the options available to the SAFF coaching staff.
Ronney Kharbudon's injury-related absence is another setback, particularly in defence.
India's Full 23-Man Squad for New Zealand Friendlies
Goalkeepers (3)
Hrithik Tiwari, Som Kumar, Vishal Kaith.
Defenders (8)
Abhishek Singh Tekcham, Akash Mishra, Bijoy Varghese, Jay Gupta, Mehtab Singh, Pramveer, Ricky Meetei Haobam, Roshan Singh Naorem.
Midfielders (6)
Anirudh Thapa, Ashique Kuruniyan, Jithin MS, Lalremtluanga Fanai, Lalrinliana Hnamte, Tomba Singh Haobam.
Forwards (6)
David Lalhlansanga, Edmund Lalrindika, Liston Colaco, Manvir Singh, Muhammad Suhail, Ryan Williams.
Head Coach: Khalid Jamil
India Set for Two Friendlies Against New Zealand
The Blue Tigers will face New Zealand twice during the November FIFA international window.
November 12: New Zealand vs India — Auckland
November 15: New Zealand vs India — Christchurch
The two fixtures offer India an opportunity to test themselves against a national team preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
For Khalid Jamil, these matches provide another opportunity to evaluate his squad, assess different combinations and give players valuable international exposure.
What Does This Mean for India's SAFF Campaign?
India's SAFF Championship campaign is being managed by Naushad Moosa, with Bibiano Fernandes serving as assistant coach.
The departures of several players create an additional challenge for the coaching staff, particularly as India continue their campaign in Dhaka.
India are scheduled to face Maldives on November 11, with the semi-finals taking place on November 14 and the final on November 17.
With some of the original selections now unavailable, Moosa will need to make the most of the remaining squad and potentially adjust his tactical approach.
The situation also reflects the complexities of managing two national-team commitments during the same period, with the senior team's FIFA-window friendlies taking priority for selected players.
A Valuable Opportunity for Muhammad Suhail
One of the most interesting names in the New Zealand-bound squad is Muhammad Suhail.
His selection provides another opportunity to develop at senior international level and compete for a regular place in India's attacking unit.
With Liston Colaco, Manvir Singh, Ryan Williams and Edmund Lalrindika also included, competition for attacking positions is expected to be strong.
For Suhail, the challenge will be to make the most of any minutes available and demonstrate that he can contribute consistently at international level.
Two Different Challenges for Indian Football
While Khalid Jamil prepares his squad for the New Zealand friendlies, Naushad Moosa must navigate the remainder of the SAFF Championship with a changing group of players.
Both assignments carry different objectives.
The New Zealand matches provide exposure against World Cup-level opposition, while the SAFF Championship offers India an opportunity to defend their regional title.
For Indian football, the coming days will test not only the quality of the players but also the depth of the national-team pool.
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