India have announced a 37-man squad for a preliminary camp before the U23 2020 AFC Championship qualifiers in March. A number of stars from the Hero Indian Super League (Hero ISL) have made the cut.

The 2018-19 campaign of the Hero ISL has seen the emergence of some of India’s brightest prospects and it comes as no surprise that these players have been called up for the camp. Some of the most notable names among the squad list include Kerala duo Dheeraj Singh and Sahal Abdul Samad, Delhi Dynamos’ Lallianzula Chhangte, Chennaiyin’s Anirudh Thapa and FC Pune City’s Ashique Kuruniyan.

Despite Kerala suffering a torrid campaign in the league, Sahal Abdul and Dheeraj have impressed many with their standout performances over the course of the campaign. Sahal has shown calmness and composure in midfield, in spite of his tender age and will be raring to make an impression for the national side.

The pair of Anirudh Thapa and Ashique Kuruniyan will provide the much-needed experience to the squad, owing to their time spent with the senior team. Komal Thatal of ATK, Mohammad Nawaz of FC Goa, Vinit Rai of Delhi and Jerry Mawihmingthanga of Jamshedpur FC have also been selected.

Update: AIFF later added midfielder Samuel Lalmuanpuia to the squad, making it a 38-man shortlist.

Here is the full 38-man squad list:

Goalkeepers: Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem, Prabhsukhan Singh Gill, Mohammad Nawaz, Arshdeep Singh

Defenders: Nishu Kumar, Kamalpreet, Provat Lakra, Boris Singh, Sajid Dhot, Sairuatkima, Sarthak Golui, Gaurav Bora, Narender Gahlot, Mehtab Singh, Anwar Ali, Wung Muirang, Asish Rai, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Sahil Panwar

Midfielders: Liston Colaco, Lallianzula Chhangte, Ashique Kuruniyan, Vinit Rai, Anirudh Thapa, Sahal Abdul Samad, Amarjit Singh, Deepak Tangri, Rohit Kumar, Suresh Singh, Komal Thatal, Rahul KP, Hitesh Sharma, Samuel Lalmuanpuia

Forwards: Daniel Lalhlimpuia, Rahim Ali, Samuel J Lyngdoh Kynshi, Rohit Danu, Jerry Mawihminthanga