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“This is a team for the future”: Khalid Jamil on India’s Brazil, Uruguay and Panama challenge
Indian football is entering an unfamiliar phase. India are preparing for a level of competition they rarely experience in their football calendar, with Panama, Brazil and Uruguay all set to line up as high-profile, world-class opponents.
But for head coach Khalid Jamil, these fixtures are not just about famous teams. The matches are part of a larger plan to develop the next generation of Indian footballers. He speaks to Boria Majumdar, RevSportz editor-in-chief, about the marquee match-ups and the road ahead for Indian football.
Boria: A lot of people are asking why India decided to play these friendlies instead of the ASEAN Cup. What do you think of playing Brazil, Uruguay and Panama?
Khalid Jamil: These games are very important for the players. I think whatever decision has been taken is very good for them because we want them to improve. The harder the opposition, the better the learning. Brazil are in the top 10 teams in the world, Uruguay are a World Cup team and Panama are also a very good team. These are good games for our players. turconews.click
Boria: You’ve referred to this as a team for the future. Is that also the logic in choosing the squad?
Khalid: Yes, certainly. This is a team of the future. We have selected the best players we have available. It is a message to all too that they have to be ready. It’s not that I’m going to carry on with the same group of players. I will select whoever I deem appropriate.
Boria: Some players didn’t play in the Durand Cup. Are you going to test their fitness throughout the camp?
Khalid: Yes. The first two days are very important to check their fitness and see how they are doing. If somebody is not fit, we do that substitution quickly. If you’re not fit, you won’t be there.
Boria: What’s your preparation for these three big matches?
Khalid: Yes, we will play matches. We could start with some local clubs and then play Panama. It is good we are playing this game before Brazil. We have less time, so we have to use it wisely.
Boria: You’re almost a year in the job now. How would you rate your first year as India coach?
Khalid: Indian football was not in good shape when I took over. We couldn’t qualify for the next round and couldn’t get the desired result against Afghanistan as well. Whatever decisions we have taken now, it is based on what we feel is needed for Indian football. If we think there’s a need for something, we’ll do it.
We need new players, especially mentally strong players for these games. Confidence is important, but fitness is important as well. We need all of your support. No negativity in the air. All for India.
Boria: How do you motivate Indian players when they are playing against teams like Brazil, considering the huge gap in rankings?
Khalid: In football, anything is possible. The importance of the 12th man, the crowd. They can do wonders if they help the players and make them confident. The players that we picked are motivated. We have to motivate them all the time. As long as you are happy and confident in your mind, you will do well.
Boria: Are you pleased with the young talent coming through in Indian football?
Khalid: Yes, everybody is fine. They are very good players and they work hard. The players in India are very hard-working. The main thing is everybody has to be happy in his mind. We can’t put too much pressure on them. I’ve told the players to keep their confidence and do their best.
Don’t think negatively and don’t speak negatively. You have to support each other. For these matches, we need everyone’s support because this can be a very good thing for Indian football.
(Transcribed by Somnath Roy.)
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The post “This is a team for the future”: Khalid Jamil on India’s Brazil, Uruguay and Panama challenge appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.
Sis Komal’s sweet birthday wish for Abhishek Sharma
India’s explosive T20I opener Abhishek Sharma received a sweet message from elder sister Komal on the occasion of his 26th birthday on Friday.
Sharing a video of his birthday celebration, Komal captioned the post: “Happy birthday to the best brother and the best human in this world. Keep shining, growing, and keep being the beautiful human you are.”
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India vs Pakistan, ACC Women’s Asia Cup T20 2026: Here are the predicted playing XIs
India will take on Pakistan in a Group A clash at the ACC Women’s Asia Cup 2026 in Dubai later today with a chance to keep their 100% win record alive. The match comes with the Indians already through to the semi-finals but the rivalry should make it a contest worth watching. The Pakistanis will be looking to challenge a side that has had the better of them in recent meetings.
India have made a strong start to the tournament. They beat Thailand by 94 runs in their opening match before following it up with a 137-run win over Hong Kong. Smriti Mandhana was the standout performer in the second game, scoring 124 off 64 balls. Deepti Sharma has also been among the leading performers, taking six wickets across the first two matches.
Also Read: India vs Pakistan, ACC Women’s Asia Cup 2026 Preview: When and where to watch?
Pakistan, meanwhile, will need a better performance if they are to trouble India. Their bowlers will have to find a way to contain Mandhana and Shafali Verma, while the batting unit will need to put up a competitive total. India’s middle order will also be tested, with the team likely to use the match to give players more time in the middle ahead of the semi-finals.
The two teams last met at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 in Birmingham, where India won by 64 runs. India posted 170/6 and then bowled Pakistan out for 106. Deepti Sharma was the star of the match, taking 5/10, while India’s batting gave them a comfortable cushion. The result continued India’s recent dominance in the rivalry.
India also have the stronger head-to-head record in T20Is. They have won 14 of the 17 meetings between the two sides, while Pakistan have won three.
India have also won eight of their last nine matches against Pakistan, including the 2026 T20 World Cup clash. Pakistan’s last T20I win over India came in the 2022 Asia Cup, when they won by 13 runs.
India definitely has a chance to continue their winning run and sharpen their game before the knockouts. while Pakistan will be wanting to put the past records aside and produce a result that could change the mood around their campaign.
India vs Pakistan, ACC Women’s Asia Cup T20 2026: Predicted playing XIs
India: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Richa Ghosh (wk), Bharti Fulmali, Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Kranti Gaud, N Shree Charani, Nandani Sharma
Pakistan: Muneeba Ali (wk), Shawaal Zulfiqar, Gull Feroza, Ayesha Zafar, Sadaf Shamas, Fatima Sana (capt), Umm-e-Hani, Eyman Fatima, Tuba Hassan, Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal