Coach Stephen Constantine would not see India as a big team until his side, which on Thursday retained its 100th position in FIFA rankings, becomes a regular at the Asian Cup and final stages of the World Cup Qualifiers.
The Indian football team, last month, had made it into the top 100 of the FIFA world rankings for the first time in 21 years.
Despite the recent leap in rankings, Constantine has maintained that every opposition is a "dangerous and difficult opponent".
"Some people do feel that I always make the other team look bigger than us. That's because at the moment we are trying to establish ourselves in Asian football. Once we are perpetually qualifying to the AFC Asian Cup and to the final qualifying stages of the World Cup from Asia, we can start to think and feel we are a big team. We are not there yet but are on the right track," Constantine said.
In his second stint with India, the Briton felt that the team has been able to raise the bar in the last two years.
"I understand we have been able to raise the bar over the last two years and that's what the intent was. However, in the larger scheme of things we have not achieved anything. After our International friendly against Nepal, we play against Kyrgyz Republic and they are a very dangerous and difficult opponent."
He said the focus is on qualifying for the 2019 Asian Cup.