India vs Tajikistan Highlights: CAFA Nations Cup 2025 Score, Updates: FT IND 2-1 TAJ; Khalid Jamil begins tenure with win

Gurpreet has been among the standout performers this evening, if not the best of them all, with his flurry of saves.

Watch

Gurpreet stands tall when it matters the most 💪#TJKIND #CAFANationsCup2025 #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/7sneyjkrSO

— FanCode (@FanCode) August 29, 2025

This is India’s first victory since March, and Jamil achieves something that his predecessors Manolo Marquez and Igor Stimac couldn’t – begin his tenure with a victory!

Anwar and Sandesh Jhingan deserve praise for the explosive start that helped the Blue Tigers go 2-0 up while Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was the hero of the second half for the Blue Tigers with multiple saves, one of which denied Soirov a penalty!

OUT: Suresh Singh, Jeakson Singh, Lallianzuala Chhangte

IN: Danish Farooq, Nikhil Prabhu, Naorem Mahesh

And he scored it within the opening minutes of the game at that!

What a start to the Khalid Jamil era 🔥#TJKIND #CAFANationsCup2025 #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/wIzT36meb9

— FanCode (@FanCode) August 29, 2025

13′: There was a time when the Indian men’s football team appeared to have forgotten how to score goals; and now they’ve scored two inside 15 minutes! What a start to India’s campaign as well as to Khalid Jamil’s tenure!

Anwar puts in a cross from the right flank, with Bheke attempting a header that is saved by Tajik keeper Hasanov. Sandesh then pounces on the rebound and fires the ball past a keeper, who’s reduced to a mere spectator this time!

Here’s a clip of the Indian team arriving at the venue where they face co-hosts Tajikistan later tonight:

The #BlueTigers have arrived at the Hisor Central Stadium 🐯

Catch the action LIVE ON @FanCode 📺#TJKIND #CAFANationsCup2025 #IndianFootball ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/CYbP84vUyC

— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) August 29, 2025

Blue Tigers head coach Khalid Jamil had recently insisted that a player of Sunil Chhetri walks into the Indian team, but added that the 41-year-old is being kept fresh for the AFC Asian Cup qualifying fixtures against Singapore in October.

“There is no better quality player in India than him. So, when he is available, why not? We need his experience. He is a legend and he has given so much to the nation for so many years,” Jamil had said in his first press conference as India head coach earlier this month.

India have been placed in Group B of the 2025 CAFA Nations Cup alongside co-hosts Tajikistan as well as Iran and Afghanistan. After their opening game against Tajikistan on Friday, the Blue Tigers face Iran on Monday, 1 September, and Afghanistan on Thursday, 4 September.

India’s group matches will all be taking place at the Hisor Central Stadium.