The Goal Drought Indian Football Team Needs to Address Right Away

In 2023, seven of the national team's 21 goals came from players who are not forwards. In the last two years, the Indian team has barely scored

- Dhiman Sarkar

KOLKATA: In 2019, after India lost 1-2 to Oman having led till the 82nd minute, head coach Igor Stimac said the team could not keep looking only to Sunil Chhetri for goals. Chhetri had put India ahead from a Brandon Fernandes free kick, a training ground drill executed to perfection, but India missed opportunities to kill the contest leading to Stimac speaking about the need for goals from other players.

Following the high of a 0-0 draw away to Qatar, India's goals that year came from central defender Adil Khan and wide forward Seiminlen Doungel, both off Fernandes's set-pieces, but it was only in 2023 that Stimac got what he wanted.

Of the 21 goals India scored that year, seven came from players not designated as forwards. Anirudh Thapa started the trend against Myanmar in the three-nation tournament and India had goals from Sandesh Jhingan, Udanta Singh, Sahal Abdul Samad and, including goals away from home against Iraq and Malaysia, three from Naorem Mahesh Singh in his first year of international football.