India head coach Khalid Jamil on Friday, November 6, named a 23-player squad for the national team's two international friendlies against New Zealand during the November FIFA window, and the biggest name missing from the list is the team's long-serving goalkeeper and captain, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.

Source: KhelNow

Sandhu's omission follows India's 0-4 defeat to Brazil, after which his performances came under scrutiny, reports said. The goalkeeping places in the squad have gone to Hrithik Tiwari, Som Kumar and Vishal Kaith.

Source: News18 via DainikNews Live

India will also be without East Bengal defender Anwar Ali, who has been ruled out with a Grade 1 hamstring injury and is expected to be sidelined for more than a month. Midfielder Lalengmawia Ralte, known as Apuia, and Mohammed Sanan are also unavailable because of injuries, the reports said.

Three players switch from the SAFF squad

Three players named in Naushad Moosa's SAFF Championship squad — Bijoy Varghese, Muhammad Suhail and Liston Colaco — will leave the tournament in Dhaka and link up with Jamil's squad for the New Zealand tour instead. Farukh Choudhary, Noufal P. N. and Hmingthanmawia Ralte have been released from the SAFF squad and will return to their club, Mumbai City FC, while Ronney Kharbudon will not travel to Dhaka because of an injury.

Source: AIFF squad release via Yardbarker

23players in India's squad
12 Novfirst friendly, Auckland, 11:30 IST
15 Novsecond friendly, Christchurch, 08:30 IST

The full squad is: goalkeepers Hrithik Tiwari, Som Kumar and Vishal Kaith; defenders Abhishek Singh Tekcham, Akash Mishra, Bijoy Varghese, Jay Gupta, Mehtab Singh, Pramveer, Ricky Meetei Haobam and Roshan Singh Naorem; midfielders Anirudh Thapa, Ashique Kuruniyan, Jithin MS, Lalremtluanga Fanai, Lalrinliana Hnamte and Tomba Singh Haobam; and forwards David Lalhlansanga, Edmund Lalrindika, Liston Colaco, Manvir Singh, Muhammad Suhail and Ryan Williams.

Source: XtraTime

The selected players are scheduled to assemble in Bengaluru on Saturday, November 7, for a brief training camp before departing for Auckland on Sunday night. The first match will be played at Go Media Stadium in Auckland on Thursday, November 12, at 11:30 am IST, and the second at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch on Sunday, November 15, at 8:30 am IST. Jamil has described World Cup-playing New Zealand as a stern test for his side, according to reports of the announcement.