This is not a ceremonial posting. The report says each delegation will be limited to 20 people:
That leaves little room for error. In a squad that small, off-field management is part of performance. Travel, schedules, recovery, communication and discipline can all shape how a team competes. Bajaj’s long association with youth development gives the move a clear logic. He has been a prominent figure in academy football, and this assignment appears designed to bring structure around a very young group.
If Bibiano Fernandes accepts, India would be turning to a coach strongly linked with age-group development. That matters more than reputation alone. At U-15 level, the essentials are usually clear:
Bibiano has been associated with those qualities in Indian youth football. For a first-edition event, familiarity with development pathways may be more valuable than a short-term gamble.
The bigger point is strategic. India is not just selecting staff for October; it is shaping the first impression its young players will make on an international stage. An inaugural competition is a test of planning as much as talent, and the AIFF appears to be treating it that way by separating technical leadership from operational control.
The next key step is obvious: whether Bibiano Fernandes accepts the role. Once that is settled, attention will turn to camp planning, squad balance and how India intends to use this U-15 tournament as the start of a longer pathway rather than a one-off trip.