India, Aug. 28 -- Back in the India squad for the first time this year, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu said the CAFA Nations Cup was not about gaining experience. "We want to win," said the goalkeeper ahead of Friday's opening match against hosts Tajikistan.

The thing which all of us are to be blamed for is the mentality. The (lack of) mentality to win. Even if it's Tajikistan, Iran or anyone. The last time we won a proper game was in 2023 against Kuwait. We need to change that. Because we have bigger agendas ahead. We want to make sure that we end up in 2027 (Asian Cup) in Saudi Arabia," he told HT from Dushanbe.

Since that away World Cup qualifier win, India have played against eight teams ranked lower and failed to win in seven. What Sandhu w...