Indian Football Assistant Coach Mahesh Gawali, defender Sandesh Jhingan, Kuwait keeper Bader Bin Saanoun and head coach Rui Bento pose for a photograph forward of the ultimate match of SAFF Championship, that can be held on July 4, between India and Kuwait, at Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru, Monday, July 3, 2023.| Photo Credit: PTI

Defending champions India would look to protect a proud file and add a ninth title to their shelf once they face a tricky Kuwait within the South Asian Football Federation (SAFF) Championship closing is right here on July 2.

India have been stretched to a penalty shootout by Lebanon within the semifinals earlier than profitable 4-2, whereas Kuwait needed to wait until further time to eke out a 1-0 victory over Bangladesh.

In truth, this would be the second time India will face Kuwait within the match. They had performed out a 1-1 attract an acrimonious Group A match final week.

India may simply seem to have a slight higher hand in entrance of a vastly partisan house crowd on the Kanteerava Stadium.

But there's a worrying side. Will India be capable of give their finest within the closing after they have been made to toil for 2 matches in succession? India assistant coach Mahesh Gawli sought to allay such considerations.

“I’d prefer to say that for those who get one week, you'll be able to’t do something. But whenever you get one month or extra you're employed extra on health," said Gawli.

Also read: SAFF Championship: Proud of the team’s grit and determination, says goalkeeper Gurpreet

“I think we had almost 50 days. Our strength and conditioning coach, Luka Radman, has done a wonderful job. We have seen our players playing without injuries, and there have been no cramps as well.” In the final, India will also be boosted by the return of key defender Sandesh Jhingan. He had missed the semifinal against Lebanon owing to two accumulated yellow cards against Pakistan and Kuwait.

Anwar Ali had replaced Jhingan in the line-up against Lebanon in the semifinals, and he did an excellent job in thwarting Lebanese advances.

Head coach Igor Stimac will be absent from the India dug out in this match as well after he was slapped with two-match ban by the SAFF disciplinary committee.

Stimac had received his second red card of the tournament during the match against Kuwait. Earlier, he was slapped with a red card in India's tournament opener against Pakistan.

However, India, under the talismanic Sunil Chhetri, had shown a streak of determination to rise above obstacles.

Also learn: SAFF Championship: India holds the edge against Lebanon in the semifinal

After scoring in three successive matches within the group stage, Chhetri was not capable of finding the again of the online within the semifinals in opposition to Lebanon. Of course, he transformed a penalty within the shootout, however the striker wish to make a heftier contribution within the summit conflict.

India would additionally hope that Sahal Abdul Samad, Mahesh Singh and Udanta Singh will proceed to be energetic on the sector, feeding Chhetri with these dreaded crosses.

Mahesh, who's often deployed as a winger, was fielded behind Chhetri in opposition to Lebanon so as to add extra help to the skipper. Gawli indicated a continuation of that technique within the closing as nicely.

“We wanted him to play there (in wings) and feed the wingers and Chhetri. He was doing that. We kept Ashique (Kuruniyan) on the left because of the physicality, and he was doing well. He was running a lot. We did not want to change that,” Gawli mentioned.

But the Indians know that Kuwait are a battle-hardened aspect, and nothing lower than their finest would suffice.