A new chapter in Indian football began this week with Khalid Jamil taking charge of the Blue Tigers — the first Indian head coach of the senior men’s national team in 13 years.
Jamil, 48, has made his intentions clear from the outset: progress will come step by step, fitness will be non-negotiable, and selection will remain open to all deserving players.
“We must do the simple things first and go step by step,” Jamil said after his first few sessions with the squad. “We may be treating these as preparatory games, but this is serious business for us. I need time to adjust to this team, and the players need time to adjust to me. Whoever is doing well will be selected. My doors are always open.”
The national camp began on August 15 in Bengaluru, with training starting the next day at the Padukone-Dravid Centre for Sports Excellence. Twenty-two players reported, while 13 others are still involved in the Durand Cup.
India will travel to Tajikistan later this month for their first-ever appearance in the CAFA Nations Cup. Drawn in Group B, they play hosts Tajikistan on August 29, IR Iran on September 1, and Afghanistan on September 4. Jamil views the tournament as crucial preparation for the AFC Asian Cup Final Round Qualifiers in October, where India face Singapore home and away.
For now, Jamil is setting standards around fitness and readiness. “I want to take players who are fit. When I say fit, I mean the players who will play must be 100 per cent fit,” he emphasised. “We had a good first training session, but there’s a lot to improve on.”
The absence of striker Sunil Chhetri from the probables list for the CAFA Nations Cup has drawn attention, but Jamil underlined that the veteran remains part of his plans.
“Sunil is a legend of Indian football, a role model, and one of my favourite players,” he said. “The door is always open for him. He’s not in this camp because we are using the tournament to prepare for the Asian Cup qualifiers, and I want to try out a few other players. I had a talk with him about the same.”
As India prepare for a demanding calendar, Jamil called on supporters to stand firmly behind the side. “The fans have always been supportive of us. Keep supporting us, and be patient,” he said.
