Anirudh Thapa saved India the blushes as Igor Stimac’s team came back from 0-1 down to hold Nepal 1-1 in an international friendly football match in Kathmandu on Thursday.

India are 105 in the Fifa rankings while Nepal 168.

Thapa scored the equaliser on the hour mark after Anjan Bista gave the home team the lead in the 36th minute.

In the first half, India ’keeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was called into action on a few occasions, as he collected long passes and crosses attempted by the Nepal wingers.

Both sides battled it out for the opening goal and in the 36th minute, the hosts took the lead. India made several changes at the break. Thapa and Sahal Abdul Samad came into their midfield positions.

Captain Sunil Chhetri’s 25-yard shot could only be palmed into the six-yard box by ’keeper Kiran Limbu and an onrushing Thapa reacted quickly to score off the rebound.