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India vs Bangladesh match preview
Premier League player Hamza Choudhury has been likened to eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Lionel Messi before the defender or midfielder potentially makes his Bangladesh debut in an Asian Cup qualifier on Tuesday.
Choudhury, who is on loan at Championship promotion contenders Sheffield United from top-flight strugglers Leicester City, changed his international allegiance to Bangladesh in December 2024, having represented England Under-21s in 2018 and 2019.
The 27-year-old could face an India team buoyed by their first win since November 2023 last Wednesday, beating the Maldives 3-0 at Shillong’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium with the help of a 95th international goal by the country’s record scorer, 40-year-old Sunil Chhetri.
“He is our Messi,” Bangladesh captain Jamal Bhuyan, who plays for Bangladesh Premier League club Brothers Union, said of Choudhury, via Hindustan Times.
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“Everyone in our team welcomed Hamza. Everyone has respect for him. You can’t compare Sunil Chhetri to Hamza. Sunil has done great things for India, but let’s be honest – Hamza is a Premier League player.”
India’s barren run in a campaign that could have brought them their earliest possible qualification for the World Cup or Asian Cup means they are making a fresh attempt to reach the 2027 tournament, which will take place in Saudi Arabia and feature 24 teams.
They have reached the last two editions of the finals but been knocked out in the group stage on both occasions, losing five matches and winning one.
Managed by former Las Palmas and Espanyol B boss Manolo Marquez, they are the highest team in Fifa’s rankings in a qualification group also containing Hong Kong and Singapore, with each team playing each other twice by March 31 2026 and the group winners reaching the finals.
🔥 @SandeshJhingan expects a game full of passion and intensity!
🇮🇳🆚🇧🇩#INDBAN #ACQ2027 #BlueTigers 🐯 #IndianFootball ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/7YS2qdRnO9
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) March 23, 2025
India vs Bangladesh team news
Full-back Ashish Rai and wingers Manvir Singh and Lallianzuala Chhangte remain out after missing India’s win over the Maldives, while Brandon Fernandes was injured during the game.
Defensive midfielder Macarton Nickson, 21, has been called up and could make his debut, while the Blue Tigers have also brought in the experienced Udanta Singh.
Defender Sushanto Tripura and midfielder Papon Singh suffered injuries during Bangladesh’s training camp in Saudi Arabia earlier this month.
Left-sided defender or midfielder Fahamedul Islam, an 18-year-old who plays for Olbia in the highest tier of semi-professional Italian football, will not be involved but was called up to their preliminary squad.
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India vs Bangladesh expected lineups
India starting XI: Kaith, Bheke, Bose, Mehtab Singh, Colaco, Suresh Singh, Nickson, Sunil Chhetri, Ayush Chhetri, Mahesh Singh, Valpuia
Bangladesh starting XI: Marma, Faysal, Barman, Ahad, Choudhury, Rana, Ridoy, Kirmine, Morsalin, Hossain, Fahim
How to watch India vs Bangladesh: TV channel, live stream
Kick-off is at 13:30 UK time on Tuesday. The game is not being shown live in the UK, while fans in India can watch on Star Sports 3 and via the JioHotstar app and website.
🧱 Gear up the guardians! 🧤🇮🇳#BlueTigers 🐯 #IndianFootball ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/B1mzRiNOC4
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) March 23, 2025
India vs Bangladesh stats
- India have avoided defeated in their last 14 meetings with Bangladesh
- Four of the last five games between the teams have ended in draws
- Six of their last seven encounters have produced under three goals
- Both teams have scored in four of the last five editions of the fixture
- All three games between the teams in the Asian Cup have been draws
- Bangladesh have won one and lost three of their last four away games
- India have won one of their last nine home games, drawing and losing four times each
- Bangladesh failed to score in six of their eight matches in 2024
- Five of their last seven games have resulted in under three goals
India vs Bangladesh prediction
Bangladesh had taken one point from six Asian Cup and World Cup qualifier games before trading a win and defeat each with their opponents across two games away to Bhutan and two matches at home to the Maldives in late 2024, all of which were friendlies.
Their matches with India tend to be tight and the much-heralded introduction of Choudhury has added some stardust to their preparations.
“We need to show why we are the favourites to qualify,” Marquez assessed of India’s opener, via The Bridge. “We need to top the group and qualify for the Asian Cup.”
At 126th in the world, India are 59 places above Bangladesh and should win, with the low-scoring trend of matches between the teams suggesting a 1-0 victory could be on the cards.
