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Date: 08-mar-2025
In a surprising turn of events, Indian football icon Sunil Chhetri has decided to return to the national team, just months after announcing his retirement in June 2024. His comeback follows India's poor performance in international fixtures, prompting head coach Manolo Márquez to recall him for upcoming matches against Maldives and Bangladesh in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.
However, this decision has drawn criticism from former captain Bhaichung Bhutia, who believes it reflects deeper issues in Indian football.
Bhutia, a legendary striker and mentor to Chhetri during his early years, didn’t hold back when reacting to the news. He stated:
His comments highlight a major concern—India’s lack of a strong young striker who can replace Chhetri.
Since Chhetri retired, the Indian team has failed to win a single match and scored only three goals in five games. The lack of a reliable goal scorer has put immense pressure on the squad.
Bringing Chhetri back might provide short-term relief, but it raises long-term concerns about talent development in Indian football.
Bhutia’s comments highlight a serious problem in Indian football—the failure to develop young players who can take over leadership roles. Despite investments in Indian Super League (ISL) and grassroots football, there is still no clear successor to Chhetri.
Bhutia’s concerns include:
For Indian football to grow, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) needs to focus on building new goal scorers and giving young players more game time.
Sunil Chhetri’s return may help in the short term, but as Bhaichung Bhutia warns, it’s not a sustainable solution. If India wants to compete at the highest level, the focus must shift towards developing young, talented players who can take Indian football forward.
The big question remains—Who will replace Sunil Chhetri when he retires for good? Indian football needs to find an answer soon.
Date: 07-Mar-2025
Liverpool shocked PSG with a late goal in the Champions League, while 10-man Barcelona fought hard to defeat Benfica. Full match analysis, key moments, and reactions.
Date: 10-Mar-2025
Indian captain Rohit Sharma silences critics with a bold statement on retirement after leading India to a historic Champions Trophy victory, celebrating with Virat Kohli in a special way.
04 Apr 2025
