PANAJI: India’s India’s record goal scorer Sunil Chhetri has been coaxed to come out of retirement and join the national team for the crucial final round of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers.
The 40-year-old Chhetri was included among the 26 probables for the international friendly against Maldives on March 19 and the Group C opener of the Asian Cup qualifiers against Bangladesh on March 25 in Shillong. India, without a win in the whole of 2024, have been clubbed with Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Singapore with only the top team making it to the continental showpiece in Saudi Arabia.
“The qualification for the Asian Cup is very crucial for us. Given the importance of the tournament and the matches ahead, I discussed with Sunil Chhetri about making a comeback to strengthen the national team. He agreed, and so we have included him in the squad,” India coach Manolo Marquez said on Thursday.
The striker had not made any official statement on this development till late Thursday.
BFC however put out a cryptic “Maybe all goodbyes are just an ‘I’ll see you soon’ in disguise,” on their official X handle.
“Sunil’s leadership qualities are unmatched. He has played international football for close to two decades and a player of his stature can motivate the entire team. His form too has been impeccable in the ISL, scoring 12 goals. India can greatly benefit with a striker like him in the team,” said All India Football Federation (AIFF) president Kalyan Chaubey.
Chhetri is India’s highest-ever goalscorer and was third among the world’s active players, behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, when he called time on his international career in May last year.
Since then, he has continued to star for Bengaluru FC and has scored goals in the Indian Super League (ISL). This season he has scored 12 goals in the ISL, second only to the Moroccan Alaaeddine Ajaraie who tops the list with a record 21 for NorthEast United.
Other Indian strikers have not really delivered, prompting Marquez to fall back on the services of the veteran striker. Marquez, who also coaches FC Goa, took over the national team after Chhetri’s international retirement and will have him in the dressing room for the first time. In his first assignment — the Inter -Continental Cup — Marquez tried young Kiyan Nassiri, Edmund Lalrindika, Manvir Singh and Liston Colaco upfront without much success.
India drew goalless against Mauritius and lost 0-3 to Syria. India did score in the next two friendlies against Vietnam and Malaysia, both ending 1-1, through Farukh Chaudhary and Rahul Bheke. The only bright spark for Marquez and Indian football this season has been the rise of Brison Fernandes, with the Goa winger’s seven goals bracketing him among the top-10 strikers in the ISL.
He could provide the surprise element on the wings for the national team, if declared fit. The other big call in the national team probable list is the exclusion of goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. The first name on the starting list for several years, Gurpreet’s form for BFC this season has been inconsistent and marked by errors.
He lost his place in the team for two games to Lalthuammawia Ralte but has since made a comeback. ISL Golden Glove contender Vishal Kaith (Mohun Bagan), Amrinder Singh (Odisha) and Gurmeet Singh (NorthEast) are the three goalkeepers in Marquez’s list.
