Important center-back Sandesh Jhingan’s name was absent from the list as Kiyan Nassiri of Chennaiyin FC, the son of Iranian legend Jamshid from East Bengal, moved one step closer to being selected for his first India team on Wednesday after being included in new head coach Manolo Marquez’s 26 probables for the Intercontinental Cup training camp.
Ashish Rai, the right-back for Mohun Bagan SG, and Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, the goalie for East Bengal, who has not yet appeared for the senior Indian side, were also called up for the camp in advance of the three-team annual event that is scheduled to take place in Hyderabad from September 3–9.
Key defender Jhingan is said to still be recovering from his right knee injury, which he acquired during India’s Asian Cup group encounter against Syria in January.
The team’s camp for the FIFA World Cup 2026 preliminary joint qualifying round 2 matches against Kuwait and Qatar in May was not selected for Jhingan, the 31-year-old center defender.
The other two sides in the competition are Mauritius, who are ranked 179th, and Syria, who are ranked 93rd in the most recent FIFA rankings. At the moment, India is ranked 124th. In Hyderabad, the preparation camp will begin on August 31.
The fourth Intercontinental Cup will be Marquez’s first tournament since taking over as India’s head coach last month, as well as his first complete competition since the iconic Sunil Chhetri’s retirement. India has already won the competition twice.
The 23-year-old Kiyan, who was born and raised in Shillong and raised in Kolkata, has been a standout forward for Chennaiyin FC of the Indian Super League.
Currently residing in Kolkata, his father is a legendary figure from East Bengal who competed for the Iranian U-20 squad in the 1977 FIFA World Youth Championship.
“We are very excited about our first preparatory camp and I know it will be the same for the players,” Marquez said, announcing the probables.
“The rankings don’t really matter because we are playing two different teams. To locate the right combination of players, we must all work together in the same goal. I am certain that these athletes will have excellent premixtures.
“I am aware that we are all in the preseason and have some enjoyable tasks ahead of us. Wearing the national team shirt is a great honor, and we should display it for all of our supporters.”
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