Sourav Ganguly backs India’s tough football schedule, draws comparison with cricket

India's football programme is set to face a significant test with three international friendlies scheduled against increasingly competitive opponents. Panama will visit Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru on September 26, 2026, followed by matches against Brazil on October 3, 2026, in Kolkata and Uruguay on October 6, 2026, at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan.

These fixtures represent a step up in quality for the Indian team, with Panama currently ranked 44th in the FIFA World Rankings, nearly 100 places above India's 138th position. Brazil are five-time FIFA World Cup champions, while Uruguay are two-time World Cup winners, making this sequence of matches a genuine challenge for the Indian squad.

Why consistent exposure matters for Indian football development

Sourav Ganguly, who represented India for more than a decade before moving into cricket administration, has backed the decision to schedule these high-profile encounters. The former India captain believes such exposure is essential for the development of Indian football at the international level.

"It’s good. Why wouldn’t it be good to play football against big teams?" Ganguly was quoted as saying by Sportstar.

He emphasised the importance of consistent competition against stronger opponents. Ganguly believes that regular matches against quality teams throughout the calendar year provide Indian players with the experience needed to raise their standards.

"This needs to happen throughout the year so that players get proper exposure. I always believe that playing against teams better than yourself helps improve your own game," Ganguly added.

Cricket's model as a blueprint for football improvement

Ganguly drew a direct parallel with cricket's approach to international competition. The sport has long maintained a schedule of regular fixtures against top-ranked nations, which Ganguly credits as a key factor in cricket's competitive success.

"Look at cricket, they play against top-quality teams all year round, which is why they get better. The same approach needs to be applied here," Ganguly concluded.

Sourav Ganguly’s illustrious cricket career

Ganguly is one of the most influential figures in Indian cricket. The former left-handed batter represented India from 1992 to 2008 and established himself as one of the country's most successful captains.

He played 113 Tests and 311 ODIs for India, scoring more than 18,000 international runs across the two formats. Ganguly also played a key role in India's run to the 2003 ODI World Cup final, where the team finished runners-up to Australia.

As captain, Ganguly is widely credited with helping build a more aggressive and confident Indian side, particularly during the early 2000s.