The 33-year-old goalkeeper was dropped from Manolo Marquez’s squad for the March matches. The Indian football team squad for the March international window had one major absence – Bengaluru FC’s Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. The goalkeeper was left out by Indian head coach Manolo Marquez after some disappointing performances.
Gurpreet faced heavy criticism from fans, especially with other goalkeepers like Vishal Kaith, Gurmeet Singh, and Phurba Lachenpa pushing for a place. His form also dropped significantly during the 2024-25 Indian Super League (ISL) season. He started strong with five consecutive clean sheets but only managed two more shutouts for the rest of the season.
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was upset about the snub
In an interview on the ISL’s In The Stands show, 33-year-old Gurpreet Singh Sandhu talked about his exclusion from the national team. He was surprised by coach Marquez’s decision to drop him, especially since his last exclusion was in 2013.
He said, “I was very disappointed. At first, it’s hard to move on, but with time, you process it and eventually focus on how to change things.”
Sandhu also mentioned how he questioned what he could learn from the situation but quickly shifted his attention to improving his form and helping his team win games.
Gurpreet made a cryptic post on Instagram
After the recent 0-0 draw against Bangladesh in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu shared a post on social media. The post, with a Punjabi caption meaning “There is a difference,” created a divide among Indian football fans.
Some fans thought the post showed Gurpreet working hard after being left out of the team, while others believed it was a subtle criticism of Vishal Kaith’s performance in the previous match.
Pressure on Vishal Kaith after recent performance
The Mohun Bagan Super Giant goalkeeper, who was chosen over Sandhu, has had two very different performances since his selection. In his first match against the Maldives, Kaith had a relatively easy time, but the situation changed when he faced the Bengal Tigers.
The 28-year-old had a tough game against Bangladesh, making a mistake early on that almost cost India just 15 seconds into the match. Despite the early scare, Kaith continued to make errors, losing possession and putting pressure on India’s defense.
These mixed performances have raised concerns about the goalkeeper position, as one bad game can weigh heavily. While coach Marquez is expected to stick with Kaith for upcoming matches, Sandhu will need to improve his performances. With the Blues preparing for their ISL playoffs against Mumbai City FC, Marquez will be closely watching the 33-year-old goalkeeper.