Photo: Collected
India’s football team suffered a heavy defeat in their very first friendly of the November international window. New Zealand beat Khalid Jamil’s side 5-0 on Thursday.
Jesse Randall scored twice for the hosts at Go Media Stadium in Auckland. Chris Wood and Lachlan Bayliss scored one each. The other goal was an own goal by Vijay Varghese.
Taking the field for the first time on the New Zealand tour, India came under pressure from the start. New Zealand went ahead as early as the fifth minute through Varghese’s own goal. They then repeatedly attacked India’s goal. Had goalkeeper Vishal Kaith not made several fine saves, the margin would have grown early on.
A chance to equalise came in the 19th minute. Manvir Singh tried to shoot after receiving Ryan Williams’s cutback, but the chance was lost when New Zealand defender Callan Elliot blocked him.
The hosts stepped up the pace of their attacks again late in the first half. Randall’s goal in the 34th minute doubled the lead. Just before the break, in the 43rd minute, the forward scored his second to put his side 3-0 up.
After the break, India coach Khalid Jamil made five substitutions at once. Even that did not change the picture of the game. The fourth goal came from a Chris Wood header in the 57th minute. In the 74th minute, Lachlan Bayliss made it 5-0 with a superb volley.
Although India fell far behind, Vishal Kaith did not concede any more late on. In the 78th minute he saved Bill Tuiloma’s penalty and also stopped the rebound. Having made several important saves throughout the match, he was India’s best performer.
Anirudh Thapa captained India’s senior team for the first time since 2018. His tenure as captain, however, did not get off to a good start. Ricky Meetei Haobam, Mohammed Suhail, David Lalhlansanga and Tomba Singh Haobam made their India debuts in this match.
Background
According to an announcement by the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the Indian men’s national team has travelled to New Zealand to play two friendlies against the hosts on 12 and 15 November during the November FIFA international window.
A Khel Now report of 29 July said the second match of the tour will be held at One New Zealand Stadium in Christchurch. ThePrint reported on 6 November that Khalid Jamil had named a 23-member squad for the tour, which did not include Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
At a glance
According to a Telangana Today report of 11 July, this is the Indian team’s first tour of New Zealand. A 12 July report by news agency ANI said New Zealand, who played in the 2026 World Cup, drew with Iran there and lost to Egypt and Belgium.
Sources
Background sources: AIFF, July 2026; Khel Now, 29 July 2026; ThePrint, 6 November 2026; Telangana Today, 11 July 2026; ANI (NewKerala), 12 July 2026
