Sunil Chhetri Returns for India's Friendly Against Maldives

India's all-time top scorer comes out of retirement under new coach Manolo Marquez, aiming to boost preparations for the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.

The friendly match between India and Maldives will take place on March 19, 2025, at 7:00 PM IST at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong.
Sunil Chhetri, India's legendary striker, is set to play after coming out of retirement following a strong domestic season with 12 goals in the Indian Super League.
India's head coach Manolo Marquez confirmed Chhetri's participation and hinted at squad rotation as part of preparations for the AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh on March 25.
Maldives, ranked 162 in the world, are using the match to prepare for their own AFC Asian Cup qualifier against the Philippines on March 25.
India has historically dominated Maldives, winning 15 of their 21 encounters, with Chhetri scoring a brace in their last meeting in 2021.