Hosts Bangladesh and visiting India will face each other in their fifth AFC Asian Cup qualifying match at the National Stadium, Dhaka, on Tuesday, following a winless run in their previous fixtures.
In the first leg in March, India hosted Bangladesh in Shillong, and the game ended in a goalless draw. Since then, both teams have played three matches each, securing one draw and suffering two defeats.
Although the two Group C teams are already out of the Asian Cup qualifying race, fan interest has remained high, with tickets for the high-stakes fixture selling out within minutes.
Bangladesh and India have long contested one of South Asia’s fiercest football rivalries. Despite the difference in FIFA rankings—with Bangladesh ranked below India—recent encounters have been closely contested. Five of the last six meetings ended in a draw, with India winning only once.
Bangladesh has seen a significant uplift since South Asia’s most high-profile footballer, Hamza Choudhury, began featuring for the team. The Leicester City midfielder made a bright debut against India in March’s away fixture and has continued to make crucial contributions. Hamza has scored four goals in six appearances, including spectacular strikes—a bicycle kick and a Panenka against Nepal in a friendly last week.
Alongside Hamza, all eyes will be on Shamit Shome. The Canada-based expatriate joined the Bangladesh team shortly after Hamza and has impressed in every match he played. While Hamza tasted victory against Bhutan in a friendly, Shamit is yet to secure a win. He hopes his first triumph will come against India in front of the home crowd.
Head coach Javier Cabrera can be satisfied with the midfield trio of Hamza, Shamit, and captain Jamal Bhuiyan, but defensive concerns remain after conceding late goals in recent matches against Singapore, Hong Kong, and Nepal. Cabrera has yet to settle on a fixed back-four and emphasized defensive organization in final training sessions ahead of the India match, where the goal is nothing less than a win.
The travelling Indian team is also eager to end their winless run in the qualifiers. India announced a 23-member squad on Saturday, featuring a surprise inclusion: Australia-born forward Ryan Williams, who recently obtained an Indian passport. However, his participation in Dhaka depends on receiving a No Objection Certificate from Football Australia and approvals from FIFA and AFC.
Notably missing from India’s squad is veteran striker Sunil Chhetri, who has scored the most goals in Bangladesh-India fixtures. Despite the winless streaks, every defeat for both teams was by a single goal. Bangladesh fought hard in each match and is determined to claim their first three points.
The match kicks off at 8:00 pm, and T Sports will broadcast the game live.
