The Blue Tigers last faced the War elephants in 2019
The Indian football team are raring to get back to international action when they face off against a challenging Thailand side on 4 June, 2025. This match will be a part of the Blue Tigers’ preparation for their next AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers, as they’ll travel to Hong Kong after the game against the War Elephants.
The Indian side has had some eventful games against Thailand in the past. They have met quite a few times over the last decade or so, with the Blue Tigers gaining their advantage against their Asian opponents in that period.
Their most recent matches took place in 2019, meaning the upcoming friendly will mark the two sides’ first match in almost six years! Here we look at how the last five meetings between India and Thailand have gone like.
India 1-0 Thailand (8 June, 2019)
The last time that India met Thailand in a competitive match was back on 8 June, 2019 when they were invited to play in the King’s Cup in the country. It was Igor Stimac’s first tournament as the India national team coach, with the Blue Tigers suffering a 3-0 loss to Curacao in the opening game. They faced the hosts in the second game, but turned the tides on Thailand.
The Blue Tigers produced an extremely sturdy defensive showing to frustrate the War Elephants, thwarting whatever they threw at them. Anirudh Thapa scored a clever goal in the first half after a set piece, which ended up being the only one of the game. Impressive performances from Adil Khan, Sandesh Jhingan and Amrinder Singh helped the Blue Tigers get a big win.
Thailand 1-4 India (06 January, 2019)
India were placed in the same group as Thailand in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, along with hosts UAE and Bahrain. The Blue Tigers’ opening match in the competition was actually against the War Elephants, who were hoping to get a big win at India’s expense to kick-start their tournament in style. Stephen Constantine’s side, however, turned the tables on them with a superb performance.
The Blue Tigers showcased their might in the counter-attacks and breaks, soaring past the defenders with quick counter-attacks and tormenting the Thailand players. Sunil Chhetri scored a brace, while Anirudh Thap and Jeje Lalpekhlua all got among the goals to hand their side a huge 4-1 win. The Blue Tigers showcased impressive defensive resolve to keep Thailand quiet and get a big win over them.
India 1-2 Thailand (08 September, 2010)
India played out a series of friendly matches against Thailand in September 2010, marking the first time that the War Elephants visited India to play a match since 1995! The two teams agreed to play two friendly matches, with Thailand getting the final laugh. In their second friendly game on 8 September, they played out a tightly-fought affair with the Blue Tigers. After a drab first half, the game sprung to life when Winothai Teerathep opened the scoring in the 48th minute.
However, NP Pradeep found the equalizer for India at the hour-mark to send the Ambedkar Stadium in Delhi into rupture. Thailand, however, fought back to take the lead in the 65th minute through Keawsombat Keerati. India had a huge penalty call ruled out in stoppage time when Bhaichung Bhutia was seemingly fouled inside the box, as the War Elephants scrambled away with a win.
Thailand 1-0 India (04 September, 2010)
The first of the two agreed friendly matches between India and Thailand in September 2010 took place in the Yamaha Stadium in Nonthaburi, Thailand. The clash, which took place on 4 September, was the Blue Tigers’ first match against the War Elephants in almost seven years! The clash itself wasn’t exactly the most entertaining one, but both sides had their share of chances to clinch the lead.
After a relatively drab first half, the game sprung to life after the break as the hosts started taking more control in the attacking areas. Thailand got the lead through their striker Sarayuth Chaikamdee in the 73rd minute of the game. India were not able to produce any response to this, failing to break the War Elephants’ stronghold and suffering a loss.
Thailand 2-0 India (16 October 2003)
India’s final competitive match in the year of 2003 came when they faced off against Thailand in an international friendly match in Bangkok. It was actually the Blue Tigers’ first competitive international match nearly seven months and there were clear signs of rustiness in the squad as a result. To their credit, India produced a sturdy defensive display in the first half and frustrated the hosts with their resolute shape.
However, Thailand kept pushing them back with their blistering attacking moves and scored the opener through defender Peeratat Phoruendee in the 64th minute. Striker Chaikamdee then doubled the lead with a well taken strike in the 78th minute, condemning India to a bitter defeat.
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