The scenes were dismal at the end of India’s loss against Afghanistan in the second round of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier on Tuesday (March 26, 2024). Far more heartbreaking was the sight of skipper Sunil Chhetri holding his head in the dugout in Guwahati, inconsolable.
On his 150th appearance for the Indian national team, it was down to the 39-year-old to find the back of the net yet again - a penalty in the 37th minute to hand the hosts the lead at the Indira Gandhi International Stadium. But by the end of the 90 minutes, the young legs on the field couldn’t hold on to their end of the bargain, going down 1-2 to their lower ranked opponents - Afghanistan.
It’s been a regular storyline for Indian football in the recent past, where Chhetri, the oldest player on the side these days, has come to the team’s rescue. And after 19 long years, it’s clear that he’s not tiring of that responsibility.
Chhetri’s national team debut back in 2005 at the age of 20 was a sign of things to come. He scored a goal in the absence of Bhaichung Bhutia to salvage a 1-1 draw against Pakistan in Quetta. A couple of years later, he won his first major tournament, the Nehru Cup, which he went on to lift on two other occasions.
By 2011, Chhetri was handed the captain’s armband, a duty he’s aced with his relentless work ethic and discipline. The SAFF Championship that year was a memorable campaign for him, where he went past IM Vijayan to become the highest goalscorer in Indian football, while also scoring seven goals to help India win the tournament.
Since his debut with Mohun Bagan in 2002, Chhetri has scored 157 goals in 361 appearances and remains the top Indian scorer in club football. He has also won four I-League titles, one Indian Super League, two Federation Cups, a Super Cup and a Durand Cup, besides a memorable runners-up campaign at the AFC Cup with Bengaluru FC.
His latest strike now takes his tally to 94 international goals. That’s only third among active players behind Cristiano Ronaldo (128) and Lionel Messi (106). But all that will mean nothing if India fails to advance to the third round of the qualifiers.
India has their task cut out. They are currently second (4 points) in Group A, level with Afghanistan and one ahead of Kuwait (3 points). The group is led by Qatar (9 points) who are certain to make the cut. Come June, India will play Kuwait at home and then travel to Qatar to play the final match. The top two teams will qualify for round three of the qualifiers.
Tuesday was to be a day to celebrate India’s talismanic striker. Instead, it will be best remembered for a teary-eyed Chhetri at the final whistle.
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