India vs Malaysia International Friendly: Match Preview, Players to Watch, Prediction, and More

 India vs Malaysia Friendly: Preview, players to watch, predicted lineups, and match prediction. Can India end their winless streak in Hyderabad?

India takes on Malaysia in an international friendly at the Gachibowli Stadium, Hyderabad, on Monday, November 18, at 7:30 IST. It will be their first outing after a string of ten games without a win. It's a do-or-die situation for head coach Manolo Marquez as well, who needs to record his first victory after taking over the reins of the national side.

Malaysia, for those who also know it as the Malayan Tigers, comes into this game in great shape off the back of a successful calendar year. They emerged champions of the Merdeka Cup last September and remained consistent up to the last days of 2024. Undoubtedly, a battle between two supremacy-attempting teams.

Kick-Off Details

• Date: Monday, November 18
• Time: 7:30 PM IST
• Venue: Gachibowli Stadium, Hyderabad
• Live Telecast: Sports18 and JioCinema

Form Guide

• India (Last 5 Matches): D-L-D-L-D
  The Blue Tigers have struggled to find their rhythm this year, failing to secure a single victory in 2024.

• Malaysia (Last 5 Matches): W-L-W-W-W
  Malaysia has displayed strong form, including an impressive win over Laos in their last outing.

Head-to-Head Record

• Matches Played: 32
• India Wins: 12
• Malaysia Wins: 12
• Draws: 8

This matchup has been evenly balanced over the years, with both teams having an equal number of wins.

Players to Watch

Farukh Choudhary (India)

He will be a top man for India as he looks to continue his current string of form. Farukh Choudhary scored India's first goal for the new coach Manolo Marquez in their last match and has been a game-changer with his speed and hard work.

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Choudhary's, is always a threat to opposing defense with his ability to create opportunities and finish them. Fans will hope that he inspires the Blue Tigers for their much-needed first win of the year.

Safawi Rasid (Malaysia)

This match would turn out to be a real treat for the fans as Malaysia's talisman, Safawi Rasid, will be present with his lethal goal-scoring ability. As a 27-year-old forward, he has a rich record with 22 goals to his credit. He is the highest active scorer for the Malayan Tigers.

His acumen in sharp positioning and finishing would help him try to tinker open weak strands within India's defense. His performance would play a critical role in the mission to win for Malaysia.

Predicted Lineups

India (3-4-3):

• GK: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu
• Defenders: Rahul Bheke, Sandesh Jhingan, Anwar Ali
• Midfielders: Suresh Wangjam, Apuia, Roshan Singh, Aiash Rai
• Forwards: Lallianzuala Chhangte, Farukh Choudhary, Brandon Fernandes  

Malaysia (4-3-3):

• GK: Hazmi
• Defenders: Matthew Davies, Dion Cools, Shahrul Saad, Faisal Halim
• Midfielders: Brendan Gan, Nazmi Faiz, Mukhairi Ajmal
• Forwards: Safawi Rasid, Faisal Halim, Darren Lok

Prediction: India vs Malaysia

While Malaysia enters this game on a high and in confidence, India will play with urgency to break the dismal run. Manolo Marquez would like to win his first match for India as the head coach, but Malaysia's attack line is razor sharp.

Prediction: India 1-1 Malaysia

Final Thoughts

This is an international friendly that brings India the opportunity to regain their footing and prepare for future competitions. In this match, with the passionate crowd of Hyderabad behind them, the Blue Tigers will look to deliver a spirited performance. On the other side of the pitch, Malaysia will look to capitalize on their form and extend their control over India.

Will it be India's first win of 2024, or Malaysia's excellent string of wins? We will see.