Indian football team defender Sandesh Jhingan believes the team's greatest strength lies in their collective spirit and stated that team bonding has never been a concern, stressing that the Blue Tigers are united.

India returned to action during March, hoping to put a turbulent run behind them. They began the break with a disappointing goalless draw against Bangladesh, a team ranked more than 30 places below them, in what was widely considered a poor start to their AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifying campaign. While the 3-0 win over Maldives prior to that game provided temporary relief and ended a 16-month drought without victory, it did little to mask the larger issues.

Despite the inconsistency, India managed to secure back-to-back clean sheets for the first time since June 2023, a small but notable improvement in their defensive performance. Yet Jhingan was quick to temper expectations, insisting that clean sheets are not the final measure of success.

"Each game we go into, we want to win. The same goes for the opponents we face. It always feels good to keep a clean sheet, but we've come a long way from that. We cherish the clean sheet, but we know we should've won that game," he said in an interview with the-aiff.com.

The 31-year-old defender, who has been a mainstay in India’s backline for over a decade also called for a more holistic view of performance, both in defence and attack. The FC Goa defender highlighted that football is a collective responsibility where individual roles are deeply interconnected.

"If we keep a clean sheet and give all the laurels to the centre backs, full backs, the number six or the goalkeeper, it's unfair. If my strikers don't press well, if my number 10 isn't taking their number six, maybe one game you can keep a clean sheet, the other one you won't," he explained.

He added: "In the same way, if my boys up front are not scoring and I just go in the dressing room and start bashing them for that, it would be the most stupid thing I could do. Because the reason they're not scoring is that we, at the back, are not playing good enough balls to the midfield. The midfield is not putting good balls in the box. So, to point out a single aspect is very unfair and, at least in our team, we don't think that way."

India’s recent struggles have cast a shadow over what was a successful 2023, when they lifted three trophies: the SAFF Championship, the Intercontinental Cup and the Tri-Nation Series. But those highs have been followed by a spell of stagnation, including a group-stage exit at the AFC Asian Cup in January and a decline in attacking output. Still, Jhingan believes the team’s foundation remains strong and urged fans not to overlook the strides made in recent years.

"The three tournaments tell us that our squad has the potential. We suffered in the last AFC Asian Cup, and I accept that, and I'll be the first one to put my hand up. Just like you cannot rest on your laurels and sit back, when you don't do well, it doesn't mean you forget all the good work you've done," he explained.

Reflecting on his early years with the national team, Jhingan recalled the long journey India has taken, from being ranked 173 in the world to becoming a side capable of back-to-back AFC Asian Cup qualifications.

"I remember when I joined the national team back in 2013 and debuted in 2015, we were ranked 173. I don't think many people had hopes from us. We've had many moments like this since then, but we made it to two consecutive Asian Cups for the first time ever."

India will now face a familiar face in their next fixture in former Bengaluru FC head coach Ashley Westwood, who is now in charge of the Hong Kong national team. India thrashed Hong Kong 4-0 in Kolkata during the AFC Asian Cup 2023 qualifiers but Jhingan knows that history will count for little on June 10.

"Ashley is there now and he brings his own system. He was with Bengaluru FC and also did well with Afghanistan. But the team has changed a lot, and a new coach coming in makes a lot of difference. We keep preparing for that and want to impose our system and style on the game. Team bond is something which, I can assure you, will never be an issue for us. We are in it together.