Sunil Chhetri Returns to Lead India in Friendly Against Maldives

The 40-year-old striker comes out of retirement to bolster India's preparations for the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers, starting with a historic match in Shillong.

Sunil Chhetri will play his 152nd international match for India after reversing his retirement earlier this month at the request of head coach Manolo Marquez.
The friendly against Maldives serves as a preparatory step for India's AFC Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh on March 25.
India faces significant squad challenges with injuries to key players including Lallianzuala Chhangte, Ashish Rai, and Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
This match marks the first time the Indian national football team will play in Shillong, with a full-capacity crowd expected at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Chhetri has been in top form, scoring 12 goals in the Indian Super League this season, making him the top Indian scorer and a vital addition to India's attack.