India need more players like Ryan Williams, but I need time to prepare: Khalid Jamil

India men’s football head coach Khalid Jamil believes the national team must urgently broaden its selection pool by integrating more Indian-origin players from overseas. The call comes at a time when India is enduring one of its bleakest stretches in years — slipping to its worst FIFA ranking in nearly a decade, losing to Bangladesh earlier this month, and operating amid uncertainty around the ISL’s immediate future.The recent induction of Ryan Williams, who secured FIFA clearance and completed his switch to India, has reinforced that thinking. Williams’ arrival brought a rare boost of experience and intensity to a side that has looked short on sharpness. But for Jamil, one reinforcement cannot mask the larger issues. Speaking to RevvSports, Jamil stressed that more Indian-origin players with overseas training should be added to the squad to bridge these gaps.“Now that we have taken players like (Ryan) Williams, we need to take more players like him (overseas players with Indian origin),” Jamil said. “But we also need to see that the players who are available for selection, we must choose him. Because I need time to prepare, not just during the FIFA window. We need to pick players who want to play for the nation, they want to play positive, we need to choose them," he said.With domestic structures wobbling and the national team struggling for rhythm, Jamil feels the diaspora route is no longer a luxury but a practical necessity. The defeat to Bangladesh exposed fundamental problems: lack of cohesion, tired legs, and a clear gap in decision-making..preferred-source-banner{ margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom:10px;}His concern about limited preparation time is amplified by the chaos in domestic football. With the ISL yet to be finalised for the upcoming season — after the league’s tender attracted no bidders — Indian players have been without consistent, high-quality competitive minutes. That instability has translated directly into the national team, making every camp a scramble rather than a continuation.Looking ahead, Jamil has identified a major short-term target: the Asian Games next year. If India participates, he plans to build around a U-23 core, supported by “three to four senior players” for balance. His emphasis is on volume and continuity: “The more matches we play the better,” he said.As Indian football negotiates one of its toughest periods, Jamil’s message is clear — widening the player pool is essential, but restoring competitiveness will require sustained preparation and a squad fully aligned with the national vision.- EndsPublished By: Debodinna ChakrabortyPublished On: Nov 29, 2025Tune In