Ryan Williams’ India debut revives debate: Which diaspora footballers can represent Blue Tigers?

Indian football has got a new lease of life in the form of Ryan Williams who impressed fans in Blue Tigers’ 2-1 victory over Hong Kong in the Asian Cup qualifiers on Tuesday. His much anticipated debut helped the Indian men earn an international win after seven months.

In fact, Williams took just four minutes to score his maiden goal in India colours, making him the fastest ever debutant to score a goal for India in their men’s footballing history. The winger renounced his Australian citizenship to become eligible for India. He became eligible for playing for India through his mother, a Mumbai-born Anglo-Indian.

His successful debut might spark a change in attitude in Indian football which has, for a long time, resisted using Indian origin players in their national team. This could pave way for these five solid Indian-origin players to play for India. Given below are five overseas players who will be eligible for India if they switch their citizenship.

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Danny Batth

Have a good one, @Danny_Batth 🥳 pic.twitter.com/Gky020xtxV

— Wolves (@Wolves) September 21, 2025

Danny Batth is a veteran defender in the second-tier English football who currently plays for Derby County in the Championship. Batth is eligible to play for India through his father and is also an OCI card holder. He has previously also expressed frustration at not being able to represent India. At 35, he still can a give a few years to the Blue Tigers but unless there is a radical shift in policy, it seems unlikely that he will come to India.

Manprit Sarkaria

Manprit Sarkaria has represented the Austrian national team once and is eligible to represent India through his parents’ roots which trace back to Punjab. The 29-year-old has been playing in the Austrian Bundesliga for close to a decade now. He has plied his trade in the Chinese Super League and currently plays for Austria Wein. He is a striker and Indian team desperately needs more of them.

Yan Dhandha

Yan Dhandha has connections to Punjab and also carries an OCI card. He started his career with Swansea in English second tier before establishing himself in the Scottish Premiership. The 27-year-old is an attacking midfielder and previous India coach Manolo Marquez even contacted him to represent India. However, things did not materialse as expected then, but in future, Indian management will definitely keep an eye on him.

Dilan Markanday

A home debut goal
That superb leveller at Mansfield
17 appearances for the O’s

Thank you, Dilan! 👏
#LOFC #OneOrient pic.twitter.com/YXdoP5j8pa

— Leyton Orient FC (@leytonorientfc) June 2, 2025

25-year-old Dilan Markanday is currently playing as a right winger for EFL League Two club Chesterfield. Markanday joined the youth academy of Tottenham Hotspur in 2012 and also represented the Spurs senior team in 2021. He could be another one of India’s targets and playing for the Blue Tigers will be a good way for him to start in international football.

Omid Singh

Omid Singh, a winger born in Iran, can play for India as his father has an Indian passport. He also has desire to play for India but yet again the Indian management has not been able to bring him back to the country. He also signed a deal with East Bengal but could not turn up. Now aged 33, India need to use him as soon as possible to take the best out of him.