India played their first match of the competition against Singapore at the same venue, a game that ended with the two sides sharing the spoils in a 1-1 draw.
India, who rested experienced central defender Sandesh Jhingan, went into an arrear in the 37th minute but came back strongly within six minutes to level the score through Ashique Kuruniyan.
A confident Team India will look to take on Singapore in their first FIFA International Friendly in the Hung Thinh Friendly Football Tournament at the Thong Nhat Stadium in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam on Saturday.
Now the assistant coach of the National Team, Gawali, 42, felt truly nostalgic on the eve of leaving for Vietnam to play the Hung Thinh Friendly Football Tournament from September 24-27, where India will take on Singapore and Vietnam.