The Indian men’s national team is rushing to secure visa clearances for five newly added players before their opening Unity Cup match against Jamaica on May 26.
The emergency call-ups became necessary after seven Mohun Bagan Super Giant players withdrew from the original squad. The club recalled its players just before the national contingent departed for London on Sunday.
Key Midfield Gaps to Fill
Head coach Khalid Jamil and the team management quickly named Mohammed Sanan, Ricky Meetei Haobam, Vikram Partap Singh, Macarton Louis Nickson, and Lalremtluanga Fanai as replacements. However, the administrative turnaround remains a significant challenge with the opening match scheduled for Tuesday. Following the Jamaica fixture, India will face either Nigeria or Zimbabwe on May 30, with both tournament matches taking place at The Valley in London.
The abrupt departure of the seven Mohun Bagan players creates a major tactical concern for Jamil, particularly in the midfield, which lost key figures Anirudh Thapa, Lalengmawia Ralte, and Sahal Abdul Samad.
Infusing Young Blood into a Transitioning Squad
To offset these losses, the management is leaning heavily on youth. Mohammed Sanan joins the squad as a trusted player for Jamil, having developed through the Reliance Foundation Young Champs program and playing an integral role in Jamshedpur FC's recent runs to the ISL 2024-25 semifinals and the Super Cup final.
Meanwhile, Bengaluru FC's 21-year-old midfielder Lalremtluanga Fanai earns his place after a breakout 2025-26 season where he provided four assists in 14 matches. Macarton Louis Nickson, who previously received his maiden senior call-up under former coach Manolo Marquez, also joins to reinforce the depleted midfield.
In attack, Mumbai City FC’s Vikram Partap Singh returns to the national setup for the first time this year. He last featured for the national team during the 0-1 defeat against Bangladesh in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers.
Defensive reinforcement comes in the form of 19-year-old Ricky Meetei Haobam. The former India under-20 captain, who recently scored the winning goal for Bengaluru in the Reliance Foundation Development League final, is expected to serve as an impactful substitute as Jamil continues to integrate younger players into a transitioning national side.
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