Dheeraj, whose performance under the woodwork during the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup in India earned him accolades, is the third player after skipper Amarjit Singh and defender Anwar Ali from that squad, to get a call in the senior team camp.
Having endured a topsy-turvy start to their campaign before a fine turnaround, seven-time champions India start as title favourites when they take on first-time finalists Nepal in the summit clash of the SAFF Championships, in Male, on Saturday.
Buoyed by their gallant goalless draw against Asian champions Qatar, India would be looking to register their first win in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers when they take on Bangladesh.
In a thrilling Hero Indian Super League final, ATK Mohun Bagan beat Bengaluru FC via penalties to clinch the ISL title.
Adil Khan ensured that India at least secure a point from the home match
News of all that transpired on and off the football field
India will start as favourites against Maldives in the summit clash of the South Asian Football Federation Cup, in Dhaka, on Saturday.
Only Sandesh Jhingan, who led the side, Rahul Bheke and Subhasish Bose retained their places, but India still won the match through a 17th minute strike from midfielder Anirudh Thapa in the third-place match at the Thunder Castle stadium.
News of all that's transpired on and off the football field
In a first for ATK Mohun Bagan this season, two first-half goals signalled the downfall for a beleaguered Bengaluru FC
India's men's football team played out a 1-1 draw against Nepal in an international friendly, in Kathmandu on Thursday, thanks to substitute Anirudh Thapa's equaliser after the hosts grabbed the lead.
All the results from the I-League and ISL matches played on Saturday
Adolfo Miranda scored the all-important goal of the match at a rain-soaked Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Images from the soccer matches played across Europe on Saturday.
A goal on either side of the break powered Real Kashmir to a 2-0 win over Indian Arrows in the I-League, in Margao, on Sunday.
'Modi has said the poor are sleeping peacefully and the rich are buying sleeping pills.' 'The reality is the other way around.' 'Poor people are not able to sleep because of hunger.'
All the results from the I-League and ISL matches played on Saturday
Rio Olympian Sandeep Tomar, Amit Dhankar and Satyawart Kadian have bagged gold medals in their respective men's freestyle categories at the Commonwealth Wrestling championships in Singapore.
The India football captain said others players in the side are very much capable of outperforming him.
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