India will meet Asian toppers Iran in the 2018 World Cup and 2019 Asian Cup football qualifiers here on Tuesday.
Though there are no injury worries for the Indian team, Iran will enter the Group D match at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium as firm favorites.
While the hosts will be trying to make a respectable show, Iran, ranked 40 in the FIFA ladder, will look to garner full points and top the group.
The last time India beat Iran was way back in 1959, with the first victory coming in the final of the 1951 Asian Games in New Delhi.
Sitting at the bottom of group, the 155th ranked Indian team have lost both their qualifiers so far to Oman and tiny Guam.
They played a warm-up match to conclude their preparatory camp versus Nepal and the match ended in a goalless draw, doing little to inspire confidence. The Indian team now need to buckle up for their sternest test so far.