Indian football’s struggles in international stage have been well-documented a stagnant FIFA ranking hovering in the 130s, a lack of cutting edge in attack, and a defensive fragility that has cost the team dearly in close contests.
While the domestic game has grown in visibility through the Indian Super League (ISL), the national team continues to face a ceiling that grassroots development alone cannot break quickly enough.
A bold new idea the creation of an “India Overseas XI” offers a potential game-changer. This concept proposes integrating elite players of Indian origin who ply their trade in Europe and other established football ecosystems. Players like Danny Batth, Adrian Pereira, and Yan Dhanda have already proven themselves in competitive leagues, and their inclusion could instantly elevate India’s technical and tactical level. But the biggest barrier isn’t footballing it’s legal.
The Legal Wall: India’s Single Citizenship Principle
India’s Citizenship Act of 1955 enforces Eka Nagarikta single citizenship. Under this law, anyone who voluntarily acquires another country’s citizenship automatically ceases to be Indian. Compounding this, a 2008 circular from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports (MYAS) mandates that only holders of a valid Indian passport can represent the country in international sport.
This means that Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) though deeply connected by heritage are legally considered foreign nationals. FIFA’s own eligibility rules would not be an obstacle if the players held Indian nationality, but since the government defines OCI as a foreign status, India’s sports federations are effectively handcuffed.
The result: a talented diaspora pool remains out of reach.
From a footballing perspective, the inclusion of Indian-origin professionals offers a “quality multiplier” effect. These athletes have come through high-performance systems in Europe, where tactical intelligence, physical conditioning, and professionalism are ingrained from a young age. A player like Danny Batth, a seasoned defender with years in the English Championship, brings the leadership and aerial presence India sorely lacks. At Rosenborg, Adrian Pereira has developed into a modern full-back capable of both defending and providing width in attack a role India has struggled to fill.
Similarly, Yan Dhanda, trained at Liverpool’s academy and now excelling in Scotland, could provide the creative spark missing from India’s midfield. The successful naturalization of Ryan Williams, who joined Bengaluru FC after renouncing his Australian citizenship, has proven that this approach can work. Williams has already delivered consistent attacking returns in the ISL, demonstrating the gap that globally trained players can fill.
India would not be breaking new ground. France, Germany, and Belgium have long benefited from integrating diaspora players into their systems, with many of their stars born or raised abroad. Even smaller nations like Morocco and Algeria have used flexible nationality laws to build world-class teams.
The cautionary tale comes from Indonesia, where naturalization was used as a quick-fix solution rather than a complement to grassroots development. India must ensure that any diaspora recruitment strategy strengthens — rather than replaces domestic talent pathways.
The “Overseas XI” Blueprint
The proposed “India Overseas XI” identifies both immediate-impact and long-term prospects.
Immediate starters include:
•Danny Batth (CB) – Derby County; defensive organization, leadership, aerial dominance.
•Adrian Pereira (LB) – Rosenborg; elite fullback play, overlapping runs, crossing ability.
•Yan Dhanda (AM) – Dundee; creativity, set-piece precision, attacking fluency.
•Ryan Williams (RW) – Bengaluru FC; direct running, proven end product.
Developmental prospects include:
•Sai Sachdev (RB) – Sheffield United U21; energetic defender with potential senior upside.
•Brandon Khela (CM) – Birmingham City; box-to-box midfielder developing in a high-intensity league.
•Dilan Markanday (Winger) – Former Tottenham academy graduate, brings pace and versatility.
•Rohan Luthra (GK) – Trained at Crystal Palace; tall, agile, and available for potential naturalization.
These players would not only raise India’s technical baseline but bring invaluable tactical education, match intelligence, and psychological resilience from playing in highly competitive leagues.
The Citizenship Dilemma
The Ryan Williams case demonstrates both the promise and the pain of the current system. Williams’ path to citizenship required him to surrender his Australian passport a major life decision few professionals would take lightly.
This makes large-scale replication unrealistic. To scale the model, India needs to create more flexible legal pathways. The government’s Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 has created a window of opportunity. Its vision of turning India into a “global sporting powerhouse” aligns with the idea of leveraging overseas talent. Within this framework, three possible legal pathways emerge:
1.Full Dual Citizenship (Constitutional Amendment)
- Would allow full dual nationality, enabling OCIs to represent India.
- Feasibility: Extremely low — politically and legally complex.
2.Naturalization by Exception (Legislative Amendment)
- Amend the Citizenship Act to allow fast-track citizenship for elite athletes who can provide “exceptional service to the nation.”
- Feasibility: Moderate requires parliamentary approval but provides a sustainable, FIFA-compliant framework.
3.OCI Dispensation via Executive Order (Administrative Reform)
- Grant select OCI athletes the right to represent India internationally through an MYAS notification, treating OCI cards as “passport equivalents” for sport.
- Feasibility: High administratively, but legally risky due to conflict with judicial precedent.
Of these, Option B Naturalization by Exception stands out as the most realistic long-term solution. It retains constitutional integrity, meets FIFA requirements, and provides a scalable legal mechanism to integrate diaspora athletes.
In the short term (3–6 months), the All India Football Federation (AIFF) could adopt a two-track approach:
- Target 3–5 high-impact veterans (Batth, Pereira, Dhanda) willing to pursue naturalization under existing frameworks.
- Begin lobbying for a legislative amendment under the Khelo Bharat Niti umbrella, building a coalition with the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and MYAS.
Simultaneously, India must establish a dedicated International Scouting and Recruitment Desk to track eligible young players in the UK, Europe, and North America. This office would proactively engage families of Indian-origin players before they become cap-tied to their birth nations. To prevent domestic displacement, AIFF can introduce caps on naturalized players in the ISL ensuring that only those demonstrably performing above ISL standards are selected.
Balancing Diaspora Integration and Grassroots Growth
Any diaspora policy must complement, not compromise, the domestic ecosystem. Relying solely on imported talent risks creating dependency and limiting the development of homegrown players. The solution lies in a calibrated mix: diaspora players should serve as mentors and benchmarks, raising competitive standards in training and match intensity. Their presence in the national setup can create a trickle-down effect inspiring younger Indian players to elevate their standards.
Parallelly, the Khelo Bharat Niti 2025 must deliver on its promise of grassroots reform developing infrastructure, scouting networks, and early talent identification systems at the block and district levels.
Implementing a diaspora strategy requires a stable administrative foundation. AIFF’s recurring governance disputes and financial uncertainty are major risks. Funding for international recruitment, legal processes, and player integration must be secured through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) and CSR initiatives, leveraging the National Sports Policy 2025’s economic incentives.
Corporate stakeholders, particularly those with global reach in tech, telecom, and finance could play a crucial role in sponsoring fast-track naturalization processes and international scouting networks.
A Defining Moment for Indian Football
The “India Overseas XI” is not a fantasy it is a viable blueprint backed by global precedents, policy momentum, and a pool of ready talent. The success of Ryan Williams has proven that naturalization can deliver results. What remains is the political will to scale the process.
If India embraces a pragmatic legislative amendment Naturalization by Exception it could unlock a generation of footballers who can elevate the country’s global standing within a decade. Failure to act, however, would leave India isolated watching its diaspora succeed abroad while its national team remains mired in mediocrity.
At a time when Indian football stands at a crossroads, this is not merely a policy debate it is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine what’s possible.
