Between the posts and the noise: India goalkeeper Gurpreet waits for Uruguay test after Brazil nightmare

FILE PHOTO: Tuesday’s friendly against Uruguay offers Indian goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu a potential shot at redemption and a chance for a final flourish in this international window. | Photo Credit: K.R. DEEPAK

For a goalkeeper, one mistake can overshadow an otherwise solid performance.

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu knows that better than most. Against Brazil on Saturday, India competed bravely for long periods of the game against the five-time world champion. Gurpreet made two saves from Vinicius Junior, one of the most celebrated stars on the pitch.

But two mistakes followed. So did two goals. And that was that. After half-time, he was replaced. India coach Khalid Jamil has insisted that it was ‘not the end of the road’ for the 34-year-old.

“He is one of the best goalkeepers India has, and we cannot judge him in just two matches, because the next game is coming up. He will be back again,” he said after the match.

Brazil’s Pedro scores past India goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu during the international friendly at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Saturday. | Photo Credit: K.R. DEEPAK

On Tuesday, Uruguay awaits – a potential shot at redemption, a chance for a final flourish in this international window.

READ | India vs Uruguay: A final test awaits Jamil’s new-look side against two-time world champion in Kolkata

“Be hard on yourself after that game, which we have lost and look at what we can do better,” Gurpreet told Sportstar in an exclusive interview. “But you can’t stay down forever, because there is a long way ahead . . .”

Learning to lead

Jamil made 11 changes in the squad from the previous international window for the games against Panama, Brazil and Uruguay. Former captain Sandesh Jhingan and veterans like Rahul Bheke and Lallianzuala Chhangte were all excluded. And with Sunil Chhetri retired, Gurpreet became not only the captain but also the most experienced player in the national team dressing room.

“We had the likes of Sunil Bhai and everyone before who were guiding us. The lessons that I have taken from him are about setting examples for the team, on and off the pitch. That’s what I am trying to replicate now as well,” he said.

Leadership has become particularly crucial in Indian football, especially at a time when its wins have dried up, and the FIFA ranking has nosedived.

For Gurpreet, the uncertainty off the field inevitably found its way onto it.

“There is something which will eventually affect everyone, be it the coaching staff, the players, the masseuse, the ball boy, everyone, when you see a lot of uncertainty that was there in Indian football at that point in time,” he said.

India’s men’s top-flight – the Indian Super League (ISL) – was plunged into uncertainty after the 2024-25 season, as it remained on hold for seven months before a truncated 2025-26 campaign began.

ALSO READ | Khalid Jamil backs Gurpreet, demands more from substitutes after India’s loss to Brazil

“I am not trying to make any excuses here, but I am just saying that that was the true reflection of where we were as a nation in Indian football terms,” he added.

“There were no games that were happening for players to stay in shape and have game time, and when you are facing teams who have a setup where they are playing regular football, they will have some (extra) sharpness even if they are a lower-ranked team. That’s something which we were missing in very crucial games.”

But he believes there are signs of better days ahead. The new ISL season begins on October 10 in its old format, while the national team trained for three weeks in Bengaluru before this window.

“I think (this) was the first camp when we had everyone,” Gurpreet said. “Now, we can plan better and see how we want to go (ahead as a team),” Gurpreet added.

A work in progress

Gurpreet has been in the national team for a decade now, and has played under four managers – all from different countries, Jamil being the only Indian tactician among them.

“Coach Khalid is very thorough in his preparation. He does a lot of hard work from morning till evening, in terms of how training has to be set up and how the opponent plays. I’m not going to sit here and compare coaches; I’m just going to talk about what is currently in front of us,” he said.

“I feel like it (team composition) is something which will take time because, since coach Khalid has come, we are trying to find a core group of players we can rely on every single game when we face tougher opposition. Every time, there has been something missing, be it injuries or non-release of players.”

A different test

Brazil gave India and Gurpreet a taste of elite opposition. Today, another former world champion awaits.

“When the news came out, as a player you’re just trying to make sure, checking facts that it is happening or not,” he said. “And then you feel that, okay, it is a great opportunity.”

The two matches so far have provided the Blue Tigers a stage to prove that they have worked on their weaknesses. A 1-1 draw with Panama, ranked 94 places above India, and a pressing game against Brazil earned them praise despite a 0-4 loss.

India goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu dives unsuccessfully to stop a goal by Brazil’s Estevao during the international friendly at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata on Saturday. | Photo Credit: K.R. DEEPAK

But for Gurpreet, there will be personal demons to confront — avoiding the mistakes he did against Brazil and staying composed in an era of trolls.

“Fifteen years ago, there was not much involvement of social media, with fans giving their opinions and listening to what is happening around the ecosystem. But now, we have overexposure to everything,” Gurpreet said.

“That is something we, as players, have to learn how to deal with, because now it has become a part of the job. If people are talking good, great. If people are talking bad, no problem. That’s part and parcel of life.”

Gurpreet has been here before. Despite making nine saves against Qatar in 2021, he let in the lone goal that handed India a 0-1 loss.

“When the opposition player comes and tells you that you deserve to be on a different level in terms of the way you play, that is the best compliment that you can receive,” he said.

India did not lose another game in 2021 since, with Gurpreet between the sticks. It won five matches, drew four, while he had four clean sheets and lifted the SAFF Championship title.

Two mistakes and two goals in a friendly can not define a career built over 15 years. And it won’t. Uruguay is next, and for Gurpreet, the only response that has ever mattered is the one he makes with his gloves.