India, 101 in the latest Fifa rankings, were on Thursday drawn in a tough Group B of the AFC Asian Cup alongside Australia (29), Uzbekistan (74) and Syria (90).

The draw was conducted at the Katara Opera House in Doha.

All India Football Federation president Kalyan Chaubey, senior men's national team head coach Igor Stimac, and women's team coach Maymol Rocky were present during the official draw ceremony.

"It's going to be a tough battle for us... Much tougher than it was four years ago. But we will be there to fight every step of the way," Stimac said in a media release by the AIFF.

"It's all about the time we have in front of us to prepare well, to obtain the work that is needed, and to be at the strongest possible point by next January."

The Asian Cup will be played in Qatar from January 12 to February 10, next year.

The top two teams from each group will directly qualify for the Round of 16, while the four best third-placed teams will join them in the knockouts to make up the numbers.

Beginning from Pot 4, India were the first team to be drawn into Group B, gaining B4, after which they were placed alongside Syria (B3), Uzbekistan (B2) and Australia (B1), respectively.