Shillong: The topic at hand was the weight of expectations, and Jamal Bhuyan, wrapping up their segment of the official pre-match media conference, set the stage for Bangladesh. "We know what’s happened over the past year," said the Bangladesh captain and midfielder in Bangla. He added that this match feels particularly significant, describing it as a game “against your big brother,” emphasizing that these are the kinds of matches you always want to win.

Despite having faced life-threatening challenges as a teenager in Denmark and overcoming a rocky start to his football career, Bhuyan acknowledged that he and his teammates are feeling the pressure ahead of the 2027 Asian Cup qualifier against India on Tuesday. However, he reassured that they are handling it “coolly.”

Since an interim government took over in Bangladesh last August, relations with neighboring India have been strained. While Bhuyan didn’t go into details, he mentioned that there’s a “little more focus for them” as they approach this match. The two teams have had their share of intense clashes, but this will be their first encounter since the popular uprising that ousted Sheikh Hasina’s government in 2024.

The inclusion of 27-year-old defensive midfielder Hamza Choudhury, who has played for Leicester City in the Premier League and is currently on loan at Sheffield United, has heightened the excitement. Bhuyan noted that they are in a better mental state compared to the 2023 SAFF Championship, where they pushed Kuwait to the limit in the semi-finals. Bangladesh is now aiming to achieve something they’ve never done before – defeat India on their home turf.

Bangladesh hasn't managed to defeat India since the 2003 SAFF Championship held in Dhaka, although there have been a few nail-biting matches since then. "Games against our neighbors are always filled with excitement and intensity," remarked India's key defender Sandesh Jhingan.

In the 2013 SAFF Championship, a last-minute free-kick from Sunil Chhetri salvaged a 1-1 draw for India. After a morale-boosting away draw against Asian champions Qatar, India faced a scare at Salt Lake Stadium when Bangladesh took a 1-0 lead, only for Adil Khan to equalize in the 88th minute. Chhetri once again came to India's rescue with an 85th-minute penalty during their encounter at the 2023 Asian Games, while their last international clash in the 2021 SAFF Championship also ended in a 1-1 draw.

Thus, India’s head coach Manolo Marquez was right to downplay the significance of the 59-place gap in the current FIFA rankings, with India sitting at 126th and Bangladesh at 185th. "Rankings can be misleading," he noted, pointing out that there are teams ranked lower than India that could be stronger, and vice versa.

Bangladesh has paused their top league since February 22 in preparation for this match. Although they haven't played any friendlies, the team has been training in Saudi Arabia for this Group C match in the third round of the Asian Cup qualifiers. They had intended to schedule some matches, as their 40-year-old Spanish head coach Javier Cabrera mentioned, but those plans fell through. "However, we took advantage of training in high-quality facilities," he added. Cabrera, who has been at the helm for three and a half years, believes this is the best version of the national team, both mentally and physically.

Marquez, 56, mentioned that having more time like Bangladesh would have been beneficial, but he understands why that wasn't feasible. “You can’t halt the league,” the Spaniard, who is juggling responsibilities with FC Goa and the national team this season, stated. “I was aware that as the national team coach, my time would be limited.” However, he might get some preparation time before the match against Hong Kong, who, along with Singapore, are in the same group, scheduled for June after the domestic season wraps up.

India heads into this match energized by Chhetri's return from retirement. He netted his 95th international goal in his comeback game against the Maldives last week, and the team has had about 10 days of training. The 3-0 win over the Maldives marked India’s first victory in over 16 months, but it came with a price as Brandon Fernandes joined an increasing list of injuries that already included Manvir Singh, Ashish Rai, and Lallianzuala Chhange.

Marquez emphasized the importance of having players who can make runs from behind, which is why he has brought in 21-year-old Macarton Lewis to replace Fernandes. He might also have Chhetri drop back to support Irfan Yadwad, who could take on the No. 9 role. Lalengmawia Ralte, along with either Jeakson Singh or Suresh Wangjam, could serve as the midfield pivots, while Liston Colaco and Naorem Mahesh would provide width to the squad.

Jhingan and Rahul Bheke, along with Chhetri and Udanta Singh, who were part of the 2019 squad, are expected to anchor the defense. Subhasish Bose and Boris Singh are likely to be the full-backs, with Vishal Kaith in goal. Given the slippery pitch and the chilly, windy evenings in the city, this match could mark the beginning of Kaith’s role as the regular No. 1 goalkeeper.

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