Sunil Chhetri's return signifies a sense of continuity; however, the situation is quite different for India's goalkeeping position. Manolo Marquez has emphasized the importance of current performance in his justification for Chhetri's inclusion. Similarly, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu's absence from the squad is attributed to the same rationale. Sandhu, who has been the first-choice goalkeeper since his debut against Iran in 2015, is facing exclusion from the team due to form for the first time since establishing himself as a regular player for India.

Errors and omission

Throughout 2024, errors accumulated, culminating in mistakes by Sandhu that resulted in goals conceded against Australia and Malaysia. Following the opening match of the Asian Cup, India’s goalkeeping coach, Tomislav Rogic, came to Sandhu's defense, explaining that when teams struggle to transition from their defensive third, it can lead to errors from the goalkeeper. However, this explanation did not hold in the match against Afghanistan, where Sandhu gave away a penalty at home. This incident could have significantly impacted India's chances of facing Bangladesh in Shillong, as well as their position in the third round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, having already secured a spot in the 2027 Asian Cup.

Bengaluru FC experienced significant errors during the 2024-25 season, including a critical mistake against Chennaiyin FC and an incident where the goalkeeper left his line to punch the ball, only to be lobbed by a Jamshedpur FC player. These are just a couple of examples. Despite their struggle for a position in the top six, Bengaluru FC did not field him in every match.

Due to limited training time, national team coaches often prefer to rely on familiar players. Igor Stimac acknowledged this, stating his continued trust in Sandhu, even after Prabhsukhan Gill secured the ISL's golden glove. However, this outcome was anticipated.

“He’s the best”

As Sandhu adjusts his performance, this presents a significant opportunity for Vishal Kaith to enhance his season further. Kaith stands out as the sole Indian goalkeeper consistently playing in front of crowds exceeding 30,000, with attendance surpassing 50,000 during the match in which Mohun Bagan secured the league shield, demonstrating his ability to thrive under pressure. He holds the record for the quickest achievement of 50 clean sheets in ISL history, accomplishing this feat in just 138 matches. Throughout ISL11, Kaith was a starter in 23 out of Mohun Bagan Super Giant’s 24 matches, with Dheeraj Singh receiving his only start from Jose Molina after the league shield victory.

Molina expressed his admiration, stating, "He’s the best in my mind," prior to the away match against Mumbai City. The head coach of Mohun Bagan praised Kaith for his exceptional performance, noting that he has been "doing a great job" from the outset by "making good saves in key moments." Kaith has benefited from a strong defensive line and a talented team that has faced minimal pressure since their 3-0 victory over Mohammedan Sporting in October. However, this also presents challenges, as many matches occur away from his direct influence.

Aside from a lapse during the match against Odisha FC, Kaith has not committed any significant errors in ISL11. His impressive save percentage of 81.3, the highest of the season, along with 14 clean sheets, attests to his skill.

At 28 years old, Kaith has established himself as one of India’s top three goalkeepers since rejoining the national squad in November 2023, having initially been selected in 2017. However, his participation in Asian Cup campaigns, World Cup qualifiers, and friendly matches has often relegated him to the bench. He has faced numerous challenges, but the recent 3-0 victory against the Maldives may signal a turning point, reminiscent of the changes seen in 2015. While no match is straightforward, it is unlikely that Bangladesh will apply the same level of pressure on Kaith’s goal as Iran did. Interestingly, this match could take place in Shillong, the city where his journey began.

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