Indian national team midfielder Nikhil Prabhu was among the standout figures as the Blue Tigers clinched bronze at the CAFA Nations Cup, but he was quick to credit new head coach Khalid Jamil for the turnaround. The defensive midfielder, entrusted with a key role, praised Jamil’s influence and the clarity he brought to the side.

Jamil had taken charge of the Indian side at a difficult time, following a poor start to the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, and had little time to work with his squad during the short Bengaluru camp before they travelled to Tajikistan for the eight-nation tournament.

Prabhu shared insights into what Jamil stressed during training, the demands he placed on his players, and how his own experience as a former India international helped steer the squad towards a third-place finish.

“From the first day, coach (Khalid Jamil) had only one message — ‘you all have reached here on merit and you need to do the same for the national team. It shouldn’t matter that you guys are coming from separate clubs,” Prabhu said in an interview with Firstpost.

“He demanded this one thing for us: when you are on the pitch, give your 100 per cent, don’t worry about the result. There was no doubt about our efforts or passion. He was also a national team player, a midfielder, and very aggressive,” he added.

India’s defensive resilience was a standout feature of the campaign under Jamil, with three of the four Man of the Match awards going to defenders and goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. The backline looked organised, disciplined, and difficult to break down, which they would now look to carry forward into future games.

“What we spoke about in the huddle was that as a team, we need unity. If you watched the CAFA Nations Cup, it was very different to break us, to break out our defensive line. That was our only aim during this camp,” revealed Prabhu.

The 24-year-old explained how his role as a defensive midfielder was defined under Jamil. The Punjab FC player came on as a substitute in the opening game but went on to start the remaining three matches. Tasked with shielding the backline, he was told to stay aggressive on the field to match the demands of his role.

He also mentioned that Jamil created an open environment where players felt comfortable seeking advice, and he always offered guidance on how to get better.

“My job as a No. 6 was to be aggressive in the midfield and cut down spaces in front of the defence, while the midfielder next to me had more freedom to attack. In all teams, No. 10 is very creative. My job was to cut down that creativity and cut down opportunities for the opponent teams. He had a rule that if you can’t understand anything, my door is always open. If I have played bad, then I can go and ask him how to improve,” shared the midfielder.

Prabhu made his national team debut under Manolo Márquez and retained his place under the new coach. He now wants to stay consistent on the field to keep his spot in the squad.

“I want to be consistent as a national team player. My position shouldn’t change; I need to give consistent performances for the national team,” he commented.

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Nikhil Prabhu