Star Indian footballer Sunil Chhetri made a triumphant comeback to international football as he scored a goal in India’s commanding 3-0 victory over Maldives in a friendly match in Shillong. This was Chhetri’s first match for India after he had announced his international retirement in May last year.
The 40-year-old captain himself did not celebrate much after heading the ball in the back of the net. A celebratory team huddle quickly engulfed him and the social media was set ablaze by congratulatory messages.
It was Chhetri’s 95th international goal. He is fourth overall in the all-time international goal scorers’ list. The only players ahead of him are Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Ali Daei. Clearly, the Secunderabad-born footballer has cemented his name among the greats of the game.
Many eyebrows were raised when it was announced that Chhetri will be coming back from his international retirement. But in the Indian camp his return was highly anticipated.
Indian coach Manolo Marquez fiercely defended the move.
“He 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 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,” Marquez said before India’s game against Maldives.
Rahul Bheke, Chhetri’s India teammate and also his colleague at Bengaluru FC, also did not find anything wrong with the veteran footballer making a comeback.
“If the coach has asked him to return, then this means the coach needs him and if does the same job for the national team what’s wrong in it?,” Bheke told media outlet The Bridge.
The numbers though tell a different story.
Chhetri’s last international match before he announced his retirement was the Asian World Cup Qualifier against Kuwait. That match ended in a goal-less draw. In the five matches that India played for the rest of the 2024 after Chhetri “retired”, India scored only three goals.
India tried a variety of playing styles and many players were given the opportunity to play at the top and score goals, but the ball just did not go in the back of the net. Clearly, the team was missing Chhetri’s goal-scoring prowess.
Helpless and ahead of the start of the 2027 Asian Cup Qualifiers, the team pressed the panic button and recalled Chhetri. It is clear, India still doesn’t have player/players ready who can carry to carry the mantle ahead.
The likes of Chhetri are once in a generation player. The fact that he has managed to keep himself fit to play international and club football at the age of 40 speaks volume about his fitness, skills and dedication. For nearly two decades, Chhetri has carried the burden of Indian football on his shoulders.
No one is sure how long will Chhetri’s second coming last? But someday India will definitely have to look beyond him. Recalling him is only a stop-gap solution.
The long-term answer to the question “Who next after Chhetri?” is for India to start investing in its grassroot football. Grassroot football is where the little ones first get the taste of the game. It is where the fire in their belly is instilled in them. By playing grassroot football, the young guns strengthen their basics of the game.
Running a football league is great. It keeps the economy of the sport thriving. Inviting international stars and world-class teams is fine. It keeps the interest in the sport alive. But investing in the grassroots in an absolute must! It is where the foundation for a champion player is laid. It is the breeding ground for the next Chhetri.
Chhetri’s international return has reinforced India’s need to invest more in grassroot football.
The Sportz Planet Desk
Prakhar Sachdeo
