Goa, Aug. 31 -- Former India cricket captain and BCCI president Sourav Ganguly believes Indian football can only elevate its standard by regularly competing against world-class opposition. Reacting to news of high-profile teams like Brazil, Uruguay, and Panama visiting India, Ganguly welcomed the upcoming fixtures as valuable learning opportunities, but insisted that isolated matches will not create lasting change.

For Indian players to truly bridge the gap with the global elite, Ganguly argues they need sustained, year-round exposure to quality competition.

"It's good. Why wouldn't it be good to play football against big teams? This needs to happen throughout the year so that players get proper exposure. I always believe that playing a...