The Indian men’s national team is looking to fast-track visas for five players as replacements for the Unity Cup, as seven Mohun Bagan Super Giant players from the original squad were forced to return to the club before the contingent flew from India to London on Sunday.
Mohammed Sanan, Ricky Meetei Haobam, Vikram Partap Singh, Macarton Louis Nickson and Lalremtluanga Fanai have been identified by head coach Khalid Jamil and the team management as replacements.
However, the players remain in a race against time for their visa clearance, with India playing its first match on May 26 against Jamaica. The next match, against Nigeria or Zimbabwe, is scheduled on May 30, with both matches being played at The Valley in London.
Sanan has been one of Jamil’s trusted generals during his time at Jamshedpur FC. Rising through the Reliance Foundation Young Champs, Sanan was an integral member of the Jamshedpur squad that reached the ISL 2024-25 semifinals and the Super Cup final.
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Vikram, on the other hand, will return to the squad for the first time this year. He last played for India in the 0-1 loss against Bangladesh in the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers.
Meanwhile, Macarton Louis Nickson, who earned his maiden senior call-up under former coach Manolo Marquez, will look to add midfield depth in the squad. So will Fanai, who provided four assists across 14 matches for Bengaluru FC in the 2025-26 season, becoming a regular for the team at just 21 years of age.
Of Bagan’s seven players, three — Anirudh Thapa, Lalengmawia Ralte and Sahal Abdul Samad — were midfielders, and their abrupt exit will be a major concern for Jamil.
Ricky, a former captain of India’s under-20 side, will add to India’s defence and is expected to play more of an impact substitute role at 19.
He had scored the winning goal for Bengaluru in the Reliance Foundation Development League final, and is expected to be part of Jamil’s push for young blood in a team in transition.
Published on May 24, 2026