The India U-23 team put up a creditable show in the AFC U-23 Asian Cup Qualifiers. Despite playing against teams ranked higher, India beat Oman 2-1 and could have earned a point against UAE but for a penalty which allowed The Whites to pick up the three points.
In their final group game against Kyrgyzstan U-23, they were held to a 0-0 draw. But India did finish second in the group after Dheeraj Singh made two saves in the ensuing penalty shootout for the second spot. After all matches of Group E, the table looks like this.
| Rank | Country | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | PTS |
| 1 | UAE | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 2 | +2 | 6 |
| 2 | India | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | Kyrgyzstan | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | Oman | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | -2 | 3 |
