Mar 19, 2025 06:53 PM IST
Sunil Chhetri is all set to play his first recreation in 9 months, having lately come out of retirement in an sudden reversal of his resolution.
Indian soccer icon Sunil Chhetri returned as captain within the worldwide pleasant in opposition to Maldives on Wednesday on the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong because the legend was named within the beginning XI. The 40-year-old is all set to play his first recreation in 9 months, having lately come out of retirement in an sudden reversal of his resolution.
Sunil Chhetri named in beginning XI for match in opposition to Maldives(HT_PRINT)
On March 8, Chhetri reversed his retirement resolution taken final yr with India, who missed out on the qualification for the 2026 World Cup, now concentrating on the Asian Cup in 2027. The fourth-highest males’s worldwide goalscorer of all time made his final look in June 2024 in a World Cup qualifier in opposition to Kuwait, in entrance of practically 59,000 followers in Kolkata.
Regardless of his worldwide retirement, Chhetri confirmed he stays a drive to reckon with after a formidable present within the 2024-25 ISL, which turned out to be his most prolific season, having scored 12 targets from 24 matches to be the second-highest scorer general and highest amongst Indians.
India set for first look in Shillong
The preparatory match for Manolo Marquez’s facet marks a historic second because the Blue Tigers will play within the football-crazy hill city for the primary time.
Within the pre-match press convention on Tuesday, Marquez stated, “It is the first time we are playing here, but I have worked with a lot of coaches and players from here. I knew it’s a very nice place.
“I bear in mind after I watched the Durand Cup in Shillong final yr, I stated, ‘Wow, the bottom, crowd, ambiance, every part is sweet.’ I am not joking, I stated it would be nice if in the future, the nationwide workforce may play right here.”
For Marquez, the match presents an excellent opportunity to fine-tune his team before his first competitive match since becoming India’s head coach in July 2024, which is a week away – against Bangladesh on March 25 in an Asian Cup qualifier.
Beneficial Matters Keep up to date with the most recent sports activities information, together with newest headlines and updates from the Olympics 2024, the place Indian athletes will compete for glory in Paris. Catch all of the motion from tennis Grand Slam tournaments, observe your favorite soccer groups and gamers with the most recent match outcomes, and get the most recent on worldwide hockey tournaments and sequence. See Extra Keep up to date with the most recent sports activities information, together with newest headlines and updates from the Olympics 2024, the place Indian athletes will compete for glory in Paris. Catch all of the motion from tennis Grand Slam tournaments, observe your favorite soccer groups and gamers with the most recent match outcomes, and get the most recent on worldwide hockey tournaments and sequence. Information / Sports activities / Soccer / Sunil Chhetri returns as captain in India vs Maldives in first look since popping out of retirement
See Much less