All eyes on Chhetri as India plays Maldives in friendly

The Indian senior men’s football team will be trying to get over the disappointments of 2024 when it resumes its international calendar by taking on Maldives in a friendly at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Wednesday.

This will also mark the return of iconic striker Sunil Chhetri who decided to come out of international retirement on the request of new National

coach Manolo Marquez.

The Spaniard has rested his hopes on Chhetri to end the goal drought that has been plaguing India’s progress in international tournaments. This was evident in the way the Blue Tigers performed in 2024, where they could not produce a single win in the 11 matches they played (six losses and five draws).

“It is a friendly game to prepare for the Asian Cup qualifiers. Obviously, we want to win and our target will be to arrive in the best possible condition for the first match against Bangladesh next Tuesday,” Marquez said while referring to his team’s AFC Asian Cup final round qualifier scheduled at the same venue on March 25.

The coach, who took over after India failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup last June, will be hoping that Chhetri’s return will inspire his side to regain its winning form that is important in its quest to qualify for the 2027 Asian Cup.

India’s last win came up against Kuwait on November 16, 2023.

Published - March 18, 2025 09:15 pm IST