Eyes on Sunil Chhetri, mind on Bangladesh | Football News

Sunil Chhetri (Photo Credit: AIFF)

SHILLONG: India’s friendly international against Maldives here has gathered more firsts than it promised. When the schedule for India’s matches in this FIFA international window was announced, Wednesday’s friendly was marked as the first time that the senior national team will play in Meghalaya’s capital, ahead of their more important 2027 AFC Asian Cup Qualifier against Bangladesh next week.
More than the match being the first of its kind in Shillong, however, is Sunil Chhetri’s comeback in national colours. As the 40-year-old is ready to play his 152th international game, after being coaxed out of retirement by the India head coach Manolo Marquez earlier this month, all focus and talk around the game has been around Chhetri.
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On Tuesday, Marquez confirmed that India’s all-time leading scorer, who has been training with the team here since Saturday, will have a part to play against Maldives.
“For sure, he will play some minutes. I don’t know whether as a starter or from the bench. We can use six substitutions, so 17 players can play, Sunil will be one of them,” said Marquez. “Sunil is the Indian player with the most goals this season. It doesn’t matter if a player is 20, 40, or my grandfather at 87. If they are in better shape, they will be here,” the Spaniard asserted.
“The national team is not about developing players. Developed players have to arrive here. The main team needs to win games. And if we need to win games, we need to call players who are in better shape.”
With his first competitive game since becoming India coach in July last year just a week away, Marquez is banking on the Maldives friendly as an opportunity to take stock and assess his combination before the March 25 Asian Cup qualifier.
“It’s a friendly game to prepare for the Asian Cup qualifier. We knew that the target during the previous FIFA windows was to arrive in the best possible condition against Bangladesh next Tuesday. I don’t think we will play with the same team against Bangladesh that will play tomorrow. Obviously, you can’t change all 11. Some will repeat. It has to be a good game and a good preparation for Bangladesh,” said the coach.
Maldives, who had reportedly requested to shift this match out of Shillong due to logistical issues earlier, will be using the friendly to prepare for their Asian Cup qualifier against Philippines next Tuesday.