Nepal is playing against arch rivals India in a friendly football match on Monday.

The match, the first for the senior side after a devastating quake of April 25, will be played at Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex in Balewadi, Pune at 7:15 NST.

Head-to-Head

The two South Asian neighbours have played 17 times prior today’s match. India has won on 12 occasions while Nepal defeated India three times. The two remaining matches were drawn.

Nepal’s recent victory against India was on the 2013 Saff Championship where they edged India 2-1 in the group stage.  The senior Nepali side is still looking for a victory against the South Asian powerhouse since.

India also holds a superior goal scoring record against Nepal finding the net at the rate of about 2 goals per game. They have scored on 33 occasions against Nepal’s 12.

Misfiring strikers

Often criticized for failing to score goals, Nepali strikers will once again be the biggest concern for Nepali football fans during today’s match. Against India, Nepal has not scored since winning that Saff Championship group match. But the biggest of the concerns will a run of eight matches where Nepal has failed to score against any of their opponents. However, Nepali fans will hope the inclusion of seven strikers in today’s friendly will end that unwanted barren run.

The recent senior meeting between the two sides was a goalless draw during the second leg of World Cup qualifier at Dasharath Stadium.

Nepal can also take some encouragement from the U-19’s victory against the Indian side on the recently concluded Saff U-19 Championship where Nepal claimed the first edition with a 5-4 shootout victory against India.

Squad

Coach Dhurba KC has announced a strong 25-member squad including three goalkeepers, eight defenders, seven midfielders and seven forwards. Four U-19 players have also been drafted into the side. Nepal Army's Bharat Khawas is the only doubt for today's match. He is nursing a knee injury and faces a race against time to be declared fit for today's match.

Goalkeepers: Kiran Limbu (Three Star), Bikesh Kuthu (Nepal Army) and Ritesh Thapa (Nepal Police)

Defenders: Biraj Maharjan (Manang Marsyangdi), Rohit Chand (Persija Jakarta, Indonesia), Sagar Thapa (Three Star), Sandip Rai (Three Star), Ranjit Dhimal (Three Star), Ananta Tamang (Far Western FC U19) and Ajit Bhandari (Nepal Police)

Midfielders: Bikram Lama (Three Star), Bishal Rai (Manang Marsyangdi), Bhola Silwal (Nepal Police), Jagjeet Shrestha (Three Star), Sushil KC (Manang Marsyangdi), Raju Tamang (Nepal Army) and Bishwas Shrestha (Rupandehi FC, U19)

Forwards: Jumanu Rai (Nepal Police), Anil Gurung (Manang Marsyangdi), Bharat Khawas (Nepal Army), Nawayug Shrestha (Nepal Army), Bimal Gharti Magar (Club Brugge KV, Belgium, U19), Bharat Sah (Nepal Police) and Anjan Bista (Armed Police Force, U19)