The Indian Women Football Team (IWNFT) concluded their Tri-Nation Women’s International Friendlies in Shillong with consecutive defeats to Iran (0–2) and Nepal (1–2).
What was intended as a preparatory assessment ahead of the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup in Australia instead revealed deep tactical, structural, and psychological flaws that need urgent correction.
With an overall 2025 record of six wins and six losses, India’s campaign tells a clear story the team can dominate weaker opposition but consistently falters against organized, physical, and technically sharper sides. The Shillong performances underscored that gap and exposed the fragility of India’s current system when tested under pressure.
India’s first match against Iran (FIFA Rank 70) was a study in contrasts. The West Asians dictated the game’s rhythm from start to finish, forcing the Indian backline into constant retreat. Early nerves were evident in the 4th minute, goalkeeper Panthoi Chanu spilled a routine cross, only for Nirmala Devi to clear off the line. Iran’s physical control of midfield left India chasing shadows. When the breakthrough came in the 64th minute, it was inevitable. A cross from the right found Zahra Ghanbari, whose header crashed off the bar before substitute Sara Didar smashed in the rebound. Ten minutes later, another lapse this time a misjudged clearance from Ratanbala Devi allowed Didar to pounce again, doubling Iran’s lead.
India’s response was muted. Their first shot on target arrived in the 89th minute, a statistic that speaks volumes. The lack of creativity, penetration, and offensive link-up play rendered their possession meaningless. Iran, without being spectacular, simply executed fundamentals better organized pressing, compact defense, and sharper transitions.
Nepal Defeat Raises Deeper Concerns
If the Iran loss was predictable, the 1–2 defeat to Nepal (FIFA Rank 89) was alarming. India, ranked 63rd and historically dominant in South Asia, were undone by one player Sabitra Bhandari.
Barely two minutes into the match, Bhandari raced onto a long ball, dinking it calmly over Panthoi Chanu. It was a textbook example of India’s vulnerability to direct play. Despite having more of the ball, India looked toothless in attack, unable to convert half-chances from Ratanbala Devi or Dangmei Grace. Bhandari struck again in the 63rd minute, this time with a stunning free-kick that dipped over the wall and under the crossbar. Substitute Karishma Shirvoikar’s first international goal in the 81st minute offered a brief spark, but India’s late rally fell short.
The defeat hurt not only because it came against a lower-ranked rival, but because Iran had beaten the same Nepal side 3–0 earlier in the tournament. It revealed a regression a team capable of possession but lacking tactical flexibility, defensive coordination, and mental resilience.
Manisha Kalyan’s Absence Highlights Attacking Overdependence
One of the most striking takeaways from Shillong was the team’s dependence on Manisha Kalyan. The star forward, sidelined due to illness, left India devoid of pace, creativity, and attacking leadership. Kalyan, currently playing for PAOK in Greece, had been instrumental in the Asian Cup qualifiers, especially her brace against Thailand in the decisive 2–1 win. Without her, India’s attack was one-dimensional predictable passes, slow tempo, and an overreliance on individual improvisation.
The inability to function effectively in her absence exposes a structural issue. For a team preparing for a continental tournament, the lack of alternate scoring avenues is a tactical red flag. Defensively, India’s weaknesses were systemic rather than situational. Against Iran, the backline repeatedly lost focus on crosses and second balls. Against Nepal, early disorganization led to a goal within 120 seconds.
Goalkeeper Panthoi Chanu, one of the team’s most experienced players, struggled to command her box her fumble versus Iran and misread positioning against Nepal point to declining confidence. While Panthoi has been India’s mainstay for years, competition from emerging keepers like Adrija Sarkhel or Sowmiya Narayanasamy may now be necessary to raise standards. In both matches, the Indian backline’s concentration waned in key moments switching off on rebounds and reacting late to transitions. These are not tactical shortcomings alone but signs of psychological fatigue and poor communication issues that demand focused retraining ahead of 2026.
The Broader Picture: A Ceiling India Must Break
India’s 2025 record six wins and six losses offers a clear picture of where the team stands.
They have dominated lower-tier opponents (Mongolia 13–0, Timor-Leste 4–0, Iraq 5–0, and Jordan 2–0) but consistently fallen short against mid-to-high ranked nations such as South Korea (0–3), Russia (0–2), Iran (0–2), and Nepal (1–2). The pattern reflects a competitive ceiling India can win when they control the rhythm but falter when forced to react under pressure. The defeats underline a lack of physicality and composure against stronger teams, while the loss to Nepal shows that even regional dominance is no longer guaranteed.
Head coach Crispin Chettri, in charge since 2024, has championed a possession-based, build-from-the-back style. His vision emphasizes progressive football and player development over reactive long-ball systems. However, the Shillong friendlies showed that execution remains miles behind ambition. Under pressure, India reverted to panicked clearances and disjointed buildup. A philosophy dependent on technical precision and calmness can only succeed if players are trained to handle high-press situations something the IWL (Indian Women’s League) currently does not replicate.
To his credit, Chettri has used recent camps to test depth integrating U17 talents like Julan Nongmaithem, Linda Chanu, and Adrija Sarkhel, while discovering fresh offensive potential in Karishma Shirvoikar. Building a core pool of 30–35 players for the Asian Cup remains central to his plan, but the results underline the urgency of improving both tactical clarity and physical readiness.
The AIFF has scheduled 83 days of national camps and 12 international friendlies before the Asian Cup a strong framework on paper. But unless quality replaces quantity, the Shillong pattern could repeat.
India’s next preparatory phase must focus on:
- Physical resilience and defensive coordination, incorporating high-intensity drills to simulate continental-level duels and reduce concentration lapses.
- Offensive diversification, developing alternate goal threats beyond Kalyan, empowering players like Ratanbala Devi, Basfore, and Shirvoikar to take creative risks.
- Smarter friendlies, facing mid-tier nations (FIFA ranks 40–60) that offer tactical rigor without overwhelming mismatch.
- Transition defense, improving recovery speed and collective counter-pressing to prevent early and late goals, the two phases where India repeatedly falter.
The Shillong Tri-Nation tournament served its purpose it exposed reality. India’s women’s football team remains a work in progress: passionate, improving, but still short of the tactical, physical, and mental threshold needed for the continental stage. With the AFC Women’s Asian Cup just months away, the priority is clear build defensive resilience, broaden attacking options, and train under intensity that mimics the competition ahead. If those lessons from Shillong are acted upon swiftly, India still has the foundation to compete honorably in Australia.
If not, the team risks entering another continental campaign underprepared, overdependent, and vulnerable to familiar failings.
