Three Kerala footballers in first list of probables for national camp

New Delhi: Indian senior men's team head coach Igor Stimac, on Saturday announced his first list of 26 probables for the Bhubaneswar camp in preparation for the FIFA World Cup 2026 Preliminary Joint Qualification Round 2 matches against Kuwait and Qatar.

It features three Keralites - midfielders Rahul K P and Vibin Mohanan and forward M S Jithin. Rahul and Vibin are Kerala Blasters players while Jithin appears for NorthEast United FC in the Indian Super League (ISL).

Interestingly, the list does not have players from Mohun Bagan Super Giant and Mumbai City FC as they will compete in the ISL final at Kolkata later tonight. Stimac may want to have a look at the fitness of the players of these two teams so that the fittest players can be added in the second list.

The second list of probables will be announced in a few days.

India will begin their training camp in the Odisha capital on May 10. The Blue Tigers will take on Kuwait in Kolkata on June 6 before travelling to face Qatar in Doha on June 11 in their last two matches of Group A. India are currently placed second in the group, with four points from four matches.

The top two teams in the group will qualify for Round 3 of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and book their berth at the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027.

The first list of 26 probables: Goalkeepers: Amrinder Singh, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.

Defenders: Amey Ganesh Ranawade, Jay Gupta, Lalchungnunga, Muhammad Hammad, Narender, Nikhil Poojary, Roshan Singh Naorem.

Midfielders: Brandon Fernandes, Edmund Lalrindika, Imran Khan, Isak Vanlalruatfela, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Mahesh Singh Naorem, Mohammad Yasir, Nandhakumar Sekar, Rahul K P, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Vibin Mohanan.

Forwards: David Lalhlansanga, Jithin M S, Lalrinzuala, Parthib Sundar Gogoi, Rahim Ali, Sunil Chhetri.

(With inputs from IANS)