India's ace forward SV Sunil and midfielder Manpreet Singh have been ruled out of the upcoming Asian Champions Trophy due to their respective injuries.
While Sunil still carries the wrist injury from Rio Olympics during India's encounter against Canada, Manpreet has recently picked up a groin injury.
"Manpreet's is a repeated groin injury. Though it is manageable at this stage, it should not become chronic hence we decided to keep him back here for rehabilitation. Sunil and Raghunath (who is recovering from an elbow injury) will also be in SAI while the team is away in Malaysia," confirmed Chief Coach Roelant Oltmans.
Sunil will now be replaced by Ramandeep Singh while Akashdeep Singh will step into the shoes of a midfielder in place of Manpreet, who was also PR Sreejesh's deputy for this tournament.
Experienced defender and drag flick expert Rupinder Pal Singh will step in as vice-captain for the tournament.
"We have several options and I don't see this as a setback for us at all. We will most probably play Pardeep Mor and Akashdeep on the midfield for this tournament," Oltmans revealed.
The 18-member squad is as follows:
(Goalkeepers) P.R Sreejesh (captain), Akash Chikte, (Defenders) Rupinder Pal Singh, Pardeep Mor, Jasjit Singh Kular, Birendra Lakra, Kothajit Singh, Surender Kumar, (Midfielders) Chinglensana Singh Kangujam, Akashdeep Singh, Sardar Singh, S.K Uthappa, Devindar Walmiki, (Forwards) Talwinder Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Nikkin Thimmaiah, Affan Yousuf.
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