BS News Agency, Dhaka, Bangladesh: The Indian senior men's team arrived in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Saturday evening, three days ahead of their AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers Final Round match against the hosts. While both teams have been knocked out of the qualification race, Blue Tigers goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu said the rivalry will remain intact.
"It won't change the competitiveness or intensity of the game. It's always a big game for them and for the people of Bangladesh because it's against India," said Sandhu, who has played three matches against the neighbours at senior level in the past.
"We have to be mentally and physically prepared because it's always a tough game. It might not be the prettiest game to watch. It might be bad, and as a team we have to be ready for any challenge. We have to be tough when we face them," Sandhu added.
Defender Sandesh Jhingan, who captained India when the two teams last met in Shillong in March, said, “Our expectations are very simple. Play to our full potential and stick to the system as long as possible during the game. If we can do that, the rest will follow. We will work hard and hopefully win this time.”
Winger Lalianjuala Changte is the only player in the current squad to have represented the Blue Tigers on Bangladesh soil before — that was in the 2018 SAFF Championship, where he scored a goal.
But Jhingan and Sandhu have also played in Bangladesh before, for the Indian youth team and Bengaluru FC.
“I played here before with the U-23 team (during the 2015 AFC U-23 Championship qualifiers), and also at club level. People in Bangladesh love to watch football and they support their team really well. We played in the same stadium where we will be playing this game (Dhaka National Stadium),” Jhingan recalled.