The AIFF Approved Ranjit Bajaj

A clearer chain of command

The most important detail is not just the names, but the shape of the set-up.

  • Bajaj is reportedly lined up to handle off-field operations.
  • Fernandes is expected to lead the football side if he accepts.
  • The tournament allows a 20-member contingent: 14 players and six support staff.

That split is important. In a short international event, logistics, welfare and communication can quickly affect performance. A defined manager-coach structure gives India a cleaner working model before selection intensifies.

Why Bibiano makes football sense

If Fernandes takes the job, it would look like a practical appointment rather than a symbolic one. He has long been associated with youth coaching in India and is widely seen as someone comfortable with player development, tournament discipline and age-group demands. At U-15 level, the brief is rarely just winning the next game. It is about building habits, managing pressure and identifying which players can progress through the national pathway.

That is why coaching continuity matters more here than star power.

The bigger test is still ahead

Reports also indicate that no squad has been announced yet, and that the federation has not set out a detailed preparation schedule. That leaves the hardest part still to come.

  • Finalising the 14-player group
  • Building chemistry in limited time
  • Preparing for unfamiliar international opposition

The appointments, if completed, would give India a framework. The next story is the one that usually defines youth tournaments: whether the federation can turn early planning into a coherent camp, sharp selection calls and a team ready for October.