Mehrajuddin Wadoo Takes Charge of India U-17: A New Chapter Begins fo…

Mehrajuddin Wadoo and Blue Colts Prepare for AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2027

New Delhi, September 4, 2026: Indian youth football has entered a new phase with former India international Mehrajuddin Wadoo taking over as head coach of the India U-17 men’s national team. The appointment comes at a crucial time, with the Blue Colts preparing for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup Uzbekistan 2027 Qualifiers in November.

The 42-year-old coach has already begun his new assignment, taking charge of India’s preparatory camp in Margao, Goa, where the initial phase includes trials and player assessment. His first challenge will be to identify the right group of youngsters and build a competitive side capable of navigating a demanding qualifying campaign. librea.one

A Familiar Face Returns to the National Setup

Wadoo’s appointment brings a familiar figure back into the national-team environment, but this time he will be working from the touchline rather than the pitch.

The former defender represented India during an international career that included several major tournaments and title-winning campaigns. He was part of the Indian squad that lifted the AFC Challenge Cup in 2008, a triumph that helped India secure a place at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.

His international honours also include the SAFF Championship in 2005 and the Nehru Cup titles in 2007 and 2009.

At club level, Wadoo was part of the Chennaiyin FC squad that won the inaugural ISL-era title for the club in 2015, adding another significant achievement to his playing career.

Wadoo’s Playing Record: Key Achievements

AFC Challenge Cup winner: 2008

AFC Asian Cup appearance: 2011

SAFF Championship winner: 2005

Nehru Cup winner: 2007, 2009

ISL champion with Chennaiyin FC: 2015

Coaching qualification: AFC Pro Licence

From Club Football to India’s Future Generation

Wadoo is not entering the national youth setup without coaching experience. He has previously handled senior club teams including Real Kashmir FC, Sudeva Delhi FC and Mohammedan Sporting Club.

That experience could prove particularly valuable at U-17 level, where coaching is not simply about winning matches. The bigger challenge is developing technically sound, mentally prepared players who can eventually make the transition to senior football.

Wadoo himself has underlined the importance of creating the right environment for young players to develop while preparing them to compete at the highest level.

His immediate job, therefore, is two-fold: select India’s best available youngsters and turn them into a cohesive unit before the qualifiers begin.

India Face a Tough Group in Malaysia

The road to Uzbekistan will not be straightforward.

India have been placed in Group E of the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers alongside hosts Malaysia, Palestine, Singapore and Guam.

The qualification tournament is scheduled to take place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from November 11 to 20.

India’s Group E Opponents

Malaysia

Palestine

Singapore

Guam

With only a limited preparation window, the Goa camp assumes considerable importance. The ongoing trials will give Wadoo and his coaching staff an opportunity to examine different players before settling on the squad for the continental campaign.

The Bigger Picture: More Than Qualification

For Wadoo, the assignment represents more than simply guiding India through four qualifying fixtures.

The U-17 age group is one of the most important stages in a footballer’s development. Players at this level are beginning to make the transition from youth football towards senior competition, making tactical education, physical preparation and mental development equally important.

India’s recent youth teams have shown flashes of potential, but converting that potential into consistent international performances remains one of the major challenges for Indian football.

Wadoo’s experience of the Indian game, both as an international player and a club coach, could give him a useful perspective as he begins building this new generation.

The Immediate Target

The first objective is clear: prepare India for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers and compete strongly in Group E.

The process has already started in Goa. Trials will help the coaching staff identify the players best suited to Wadoo’s plans, while the following weeks will be crucial for establishing the team’s playing identity.

For the Blue Colts, the appointment marks the beginning of a fresh chapter. For Wadoo, it is an opportunity to pass on lessons gathered across a career that has taken him from representing India on major stages to coaching at the domestic level.

The next milestone arrives in November. Until then, the work in Goa will determine whether India’s young footballers are ready for their biggest test yet.

The Indian team is going to play their next T20I series against Afghanistan, which will began from September 13 to 17th. This clash will be important for the hosts as they played their last T20I series against Zimbabwe in July.

Ahead of the T20I series against Afghanistan, The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI’s) chief selector of the senior men’s cricket selection committee, Ajit Agarkar, was missing from the BCCI’s all-important review meeting, which was held on September 3 in Mumbai.

Ajit Agarkar’s contract extension remains unclear after absence from key meeting

His absence from the important meetings created more buzz and speculation around his tenure. There were many reports escalated in past days regarding whether his tenure will extend or not.

Still, there is no confirmation about the extension of his contract as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI’s) chief selector. However, the one piece of information about his contract is clear that it ends in September.

Ajit Agarkar was handed his duties in July 2023. During his tenure, he handled and took some important steps as he was a selector of the Team India’s ODI World Cup 2023 squad. Not only this, he played a major part in making Team India winner of the 2024 and 2026 T20 World Cups and the 2025 Champions Trophy as well.

Many top decision-makers were present at the meetings, like team head coach Gautam Gambhir, Centre of Excellence chief VVS Laxman and both captains Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer.

BCCI explains Ajit Agarkar’s absence, contract extension not discussed

Well, if we discuss why Ajit Agarkar was not in the meeting. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia opened up about his absence from the important meeting and claimed that he was not in Mumbai and the meeting was called on short notice.

“He was out of station. He could not be part of the meeting. This meeting was called on short notice. He was not in town. He was in such an area, where he could not join online despite his best efforts.”

Saikia also said that there was no discussion about extending Ajit Agarkar’s contract during the meeting.

He added that the main focus was on the team’s poor results in the England and Sri Lanka series. The meeting also discussed plans for the team’s future and preparations for the 2027 World Cup.

Smriti Mandhana has made history as the highest run-scorer in women's international cricket, breaking Mithali Raj's enduring record during the Asia Cup. Her extraordinary performance included a remarkable 124 runs off just 64 balls, establishing new benchmarks for both individual scores and partnerships. This milestone is a pivotal moment, showcasing the evolution and rise of women's cricket on the global stage.

In the Women's T20 Asia Cup 2026 match against Team India, Hong Kong's skipper Natasha Miles has won the toss and elected to bowl first at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the United Arab Emirates.

After winning the toss, Hong Kong's skipper Miles said, "We're going to have a bowl first. I think the conditions would suit that. Very confident with our batting lineup to come out here and chase down any score. So, let's make the most of these conditions. [What is a good total?] I think we've seen, as an average score, it's been about 120 -130. They're obviously a very accomplished side, so, looking at 140, 150, we've had a couple of chases like that this year. So, if we can keep them to 140, 150... [Any changes?] We have two changes. I'm coming in for Dorothea, and Iqra Sahar is coming in. [How big is this occasion?] It's obviously a very exciting occasion. We're playing one of the top teams in the world. They're an incredible side. Obviously, everyone's very excited to see how we can compete against such an incredible side. And, I mean, taking in the occasion and enjoying ourselves, and hopefully we come back to the Asia Cup in the future. [On Alison Siu playing her 100th T20I] She's been a spearhead for our attack for many years now. Always making 100 appearances for your country is an incredible achievement. So, congrats to Alison, and we're happy to have her on the side always and hope she has a great game".

On the other hand, Team India's captain Harmanpreet Kaur said, "We thought of batting first because I personally believe we want to get used to these conditions as soon as possible. [What total are you aiming for?] Well, we are not keeping anything in mind. Let's just go there and execute ourselves in a positive way and let's see what we achieve at the end of the day. [What's your reading of this pitch?] It's a very tricky wicket, and as a batting unit we have to just keep looking at the ball and execute ourselves in a positive way. [What's your playing combination today?] We're going with the same eleven. [What do you expect from Hong Kong, China?] I think they have been playing really good cricket. We have seen they have been very positive in this competition, and we just want to keep doing what we have been doing. And I think (it's an) opportunity for us to play another positive game".

Women's T20 Asia Cup 2026, India vs Hong Kong: Confirmed Playing XIs

India: Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Pratika Rawal, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Bharti Fulmali, Richa Ghosh (WK), Deepti Sharma, Prema Rawat, Nandani Sharma, Sree Charani, Kranti Gaud.

Hong Kong: Natasha Miles (C), Maryam Bibi, Alison Siu, Mariko Hill, Iqra Sahar, Joyleen Kaur, Marina Lamplough, Yasmin Daswani (WK), Ruchita Venkatesh, Shanzeen Shahzad, Kary Chan.

Team India is ready to take on Afghanistan in the T20I series for their upcoming schedule. The three-match is scheduled from September 13th to 17th. For this highly intense series, the Men in blue have already announced their squad.

Meanwhile, their opponents have already announced their players for the important series. The visitors will look for a massive victory in this series. On the other hand, Team India’s aim is to defeat Afghanistan with a clean series swoop in the series.

Gautam Gambhir to decide key players’ Duleep Trophy final availability

However, ahead of the India vs Afghanistan series clash, The Press Trust of India (PTI) claimed a big report for some of India’s key players in this series. As the Indian side’s head coach, Gautam Gambhir, will decide about players like Tilak Varma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Ishan Kishan’s availability in the Duleep Trophy final for their respective teams.

The reason behind it is that it might be a priority and commitment to the Indian team first, more than any domestic or other tournaments. Speaking about the current scenario in the Duleep Trophy, Ishan and Sooryavanshi’s side will face South Zone which includes players like Devdutt Padikkal, KL Rahul and Mohammed Siraj, even if they miss out on Tilak. So, this makes their chances more difficult to win the tournament, after a long gap of 13 years.

Meanwhile, if Ishan Kishan and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi wouldn’t be available for the East Zone in the Duleep Trophy. The side had to bring players like Subhranshu Senapati and Shahbaz Ahmed to the team.

Tilak Varma shines with 167, Sooryavanshi continues to impress in Duleep Trophy

“The Indian team will assemble in Delhi on either September 9 or 10. If the head coach wants all three to report as per the T20I team’s itinerary, then the trio cannot play,” a source said.

“But if the head coach wants them to play the final and report to Delhi on September 10 late evening, they can also do that,” the source added.

If we discuss their performances for their respective sides in the Duleep Trophy, Tilak Varma is leading the table among them with a brilliant performance for his side with sitting on the third spot in the most runs list in the tournament. In a recent match of the tournament, Tilak Varma played a blistering knock against North Zone in the semifinal, where he scored 167 runs. Meanwhile, the pocket dynamite (Vaibhav Sooryavanshi) is also reaching good heights in the domestic tournament as he is moving forward with a dependable strike rate of 107.69.