Hisor, Aug. 29 -- Anwar Ali and Sandesh Jhingan ensured India's new chapter under head coach Khalid Jamil began on a winning note as the Blue Tigers ousted Tajikistan with a 2-1 victory at the Central Asian Football Association (CAFA) Nations Cup on Friday night.

It was India's first victory in nearly two years away from home, with their last victory dating back to November 2023 in Kuwait in the World Cup qualifiers. In a topsy-turvy affair, the contest was decided by the finest of margins. From Anwar's attacking prowess to Gurpreet's magic with the gloves, the 133rd-ranked side enjoyed one of its finest nights on the field against the 106th-ranked team.

The new era with Jamil at the helm began with India adopting a 4-4-1-1 formation, w...