FIBA World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers: India Faces Saudi Arabia in Window 1 Opening Clash
Placed in Group D alongside Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, the national team eyes its first win against the Middle Eastern country in five years.
The road to the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 officially begins for India this week, as the Senior Men’s National Team gears up for a challenging two-game opening window against Saudi Arabia.
The two sides meet first in Riyadh on November 27, 2025, before returning to India for the home leg in Chennai’s Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium on November 30, 2025.
India has been drawn into Group D, where they will compete against Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar for a spot in the World Cup.
FIBA’s Push to Rival Football
Basketball’s top governing body has been on a mission to elevate the FIBA Basketball World Cup into one of the world’s most-watched mega events, on par with football’s FIFA World Cup. More competition, expanded digital consumption, and increased national participation have become cornerstones of this global strategy.
With this year’s qualifiers marking the 75th anniversary of the first-ever Basketball World Cup held in 1950, FIBA aims to host its grandest event yet.
For India, the Asian qualifiers represent both opportunity and challenge. The men’s team has never won a FIBA World Cup Qualifiers game, and heads into this window with another battle on its hands. Since 2021, the Indian team has also lost all of its matchups against the Gulf nation, including key encounters during the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup and the 2023 Asian Qualifiers.
Yet, the mood is cautiously optimistic. India now enters this window with renewed confidence and a stronger blend of experienced leadership and emerging talent, backed by players who have tested themselves overseas.
Three crucial squad members, Palpreet Singh Brar, Sahaj Pratap Singh Sekhon, and Harsh Dagar, are returning with valuable international experience from playing in the professional league basketball in Mongolia this year, bringing improved skill sets and enhanced game-readiness. Additionally, the return of injured Amjyot Singh Gill brings valuable experience and leadership to the roster.
India Roster Announced
The Basketball Federation of India has confirmed the 12-man squad representing the nation:
Sahaij Pratap Singh Sekhon
Harsh Dagar
Muin Bek Hafeez
Kanwar Gurbaz Singh Sandhu
Arvind Kumar Muthukrishnan
Sahil
Palpreet Singh Brar
Pratyanshu Tomar
Pranav Prince
Amjyot Singh Gill
Piyush Meena
Lokendra Singh
The team will be led by Head Coach Scott Flemming, supported by assistant coaches Rama Linga Prasad Guntupalli, Sambhaji Kadam, and former India player Yadwinder Singh, while Siva Shanmuga Singh Veerapandi will serve as the physiotherapist for the squad.
Window 1 Games Schedule
India vs Saudi Arabia - November 27 - 21:30 p.m. (IST)
India vs Saudi Arabia - November 30 - 18:00 p.m. (IST)
How to Watch?
The games will be available to watch via the paid live streaming platform, Courtside 1981. The home game on November 30 is free to attend at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai.
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