Suhail Ahmad Bhat is the 21-year-old striker from Srinagar who became the face of India’s SAFF Championship 2026 campaign, scoring three goals in two group games to send the defending champions into the semi-finals as group toppers. His 38th-minute penalty against Maldives on 11 November 2026, following a brace against Pakistan, made him the breakout Indian star of the tournament.
Bhat plays his club football for Mohun Bagan Super Giant, one of India’s biggest clubs, and was named by The Guardian in 2022 as one of the 60 best young talents in world football. This biography covers his age, height, career, net worth and the SAFF Championship breakthrough.
| Full Name | Suhail Ahmad Bhat |
| Date of Birth | 8 April 2005 |
| Age | 21 years old (as of November 2026) |
| Height | 5 feet 11 inches (1.80 m) |
| Birthplace | Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India |
| Occupation | Professional footballer (striker) |
| Known For | Mohun Bagan Super Giant; India national team; three goals at the SAFF Championship 2026 |
| Spouse | Not publicly known — see Personal Life section below |
| Net Worth 2026 | Not publicly reported (market value about €25,000 per AiScore) — see Net Worth section below |
Early Life
Suhail Ahmad Bhat was born on 8 April 2005 in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. In 2017 he was selected from a football camp in Srinagar to join the Jammu and Kashmir Sports Council Football Academy, the first step on a path that took him through the AIFF Elite Academy and into India’s youth national teams.
He was first called up to India’s under-16 team in 2021 and scored on his debut against the United Arab Emirates, according to the All India Football Federation. His progress through the youth system was rapid: he represented India at under-17 level, scoring 10 goals in 14 appearances, and at under-23 level, with 11 goals in 16 appearances.
Club Career
Bhat began his professional career with Indian Arrows, the AIFF’s developmental side, joining in January 2022 during the 2021-22 I-League season. He made his professional debut on 4 March 2022, coming on as a substitute in a 1-0 win over Sudeva Delhi, and made seven appearances that season without scoring. In September 2022, The Guardian named him one of the 60 best young talents in world football born in 2005.
When Indian Arrows were disbanded, Bhat was briefly without a club before joining Mohun Bagan on 1 January 2023. He spent his first season with the club’s under-21 side in the Reliance Foundation Development League, playing 15 matches and scoring eight goals, including a hat-trick against Mohammedan SC, as the Mariners finished third. He also played in the Next Gen Cup, scoring against West Ham United’s under-21 side.
His first-team breakthrough came in the 2023 Durand Cup, when he scored his debut goal for Mohun Bagan’s senior side in a 5-0 group-stage win over Bangladesh Army. He was part of the Mohun Bagan squads that won the Indian Super League in 2022-23 and 2024-25, according to Fotmob, though he is yet to score a league goal: his 19 ISL appearances have produced no goals, and most of his 29 goals in 75 Mohun Bagan appearances have come in the Calcutta Football League and other competitions, as of October 2026. His contract with the club runs until 31 May 2028, and he wears the No. 72 shirt.
International Career and the SAFF Breakthrough
Bhat made his senior India debut on 4 June 2025, in a 0-2 friendly defeat to Thailand. He had already been prolific at youth level, and the senior goals followed quickly once he was given a run in the side at the senior SAFF Championship 2026 in Dhaka.
India opened the tournament against Pakistan on 5 November 2026, and Bhat scored twice in a 3-2 win. Six days later, against Maldives in the final Group B match, he converted a 38th-minute penalty, sending goalkeeper Hussain Shareef the wrong way, to secure a 1-0 win and top spot in the group, with goalkeeper Priyansh Dubey’s late saves protecting the lead. The three goals made Bhat India’s top scorer in the group stage, and the defending champions advanced to a semi-final against Bhutan on 14 November, with the final scheduled for 17 November. During the tournament he described the Pakistan win as “a memorable start” but insisted it was “only the beginning” of India’s campaign.
A right-footed striker, Bhat plays centrally, the position in which finishers such as Cristiano Ronaldo built their careers. His SAFF goals showed composure beyond his years: the brace against Pakistan put India in control of their group, while the Maldives penalty, converted with the goalkeeper sent the wrong way, showed nerve from the spot under tournament pressure.
Personal Life
Bhat keeps his personal life out of the public eye. He is from Srinagar, and his family background has not been reported in the media. There is no publicly reported information about a wife or girlfriend, and he has not spoken about relationships in interviews.
His focus, in every interview he has given, has been football: the move from Srinagar’s academy system to Mohun Bagan and the national team, and the work still needed to become a regular starter at club level. At 21, with a contract running to 2028 and a senior international breakthrough behind him, he is one of the most closely watched young Indian footballers of his generation.
Suhail Bhat Net Worth 2026
Suhail Bhat’s net worth has not been publicly reported. He is at the start of his professional career, and no Indian media outlet or financial site has published an estimate of his wealth, so no figure is given here.
The closest public measure of his value is his transfer-market valuation: the stats site AiScore lists his player value at around €25,000, and his Mohun Bagan contract runs until 31 May 2028. His earnings will grow with first-team appearances and international caps, but at this stage of his career he is a developing player rather than an established star, unlike established Indian sporting stars such as Virat Kohli, whose wealth is widely reported.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Suhail Bhat?
Suhail Bhat is 21 years old. He was born on 8 April 2005 in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, India. One stats page lists 7 April 2005, but 8 April is the date used by the overwhelming majority of sources.
How tall is Suhail Bhat?
Suhail Bhat is 5 feet 11 inches tall (1.80 m), according to his Wikipedia profile. The stats site AiScore lists him slightly shorter, at 177 cm (5 feet 10 inches).
Which club does Suhail Bhat play for?
Suhail Bhat plays for Mohun Bagan Super Giant in the Indian Super League, as a striker wearing the No. 72 shirt. He joined the club on 1 January 2023, and his contract runs until 31 May 2028.
How many goals did Suhail Bhat score at the SAFF Championship 2026?
Suhail Bhat scored three goals in the group stage: a brace in India’s 3-2 win over Pakistan on 5 November 2026, and the winning penalty in the 1-0 victory over Maldives on 11 November 2026. India finished top of Group B and advanced to a semi-final against Bhutan on 14 November.
What is Suhail Bhat’s net worth in 2026?
His net worth has not been publicly reported. The only public valuation is his transfer-market value of around €25,000, according to the stats site AiScore. His salary at Mohun Bagan has not been publicly disclosed.
Is Suhail Bhat married?
There is no publicly reported information about Suhail Bhat having a wife or girlfriend. He is 21 years old and keeps his personal life private, and has not spoken about relationships in interviews.
