Khalid Jamil opens door for Sunil Chhetri’s comeback to India: “A true legend”

India head coach Khalid Jamil has made it clear that the door remains open for Sunil Chhetri to return to the national team, even though the 40-year-old forward has been left out of India’s squad for the upcoming CAFA Nations Cup.

Chhetri, who has been the face of Indian football for nearly two decades, was not included in the 23-man squad for the tournament in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan starting August 29. This marks Jamil’s first assignment as India’s head coach since taking charge earlier this month.

Speaking to PTI after announcing the squad on August 25, Jamil praised Chhetri’s enduring quality and experience. “There is no better player in India than him. When he is available, why not include him? He is a legend and has given so much to the nation for so many years,” Jamil said.

“If he wants to play in future matches, there is no issue. He scored goals last year and performed well,” he added.

Jamil clarified that Chhetri’s omission from the initial 35-man probables list was deliberate. He had discussed the decision with Chhetri and intended to experiment with a different squad mix, using the CAFA Cup as preparation for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers. The coach emphasized that Chhetri could still feature in upcoming matches.

Chhetri’s international career remains a topic of discussion. The forward had retired from national duty in June 2024 but returned briefly earlier this year at the urging of then-coach Manolo Marquez, participating in four Asian Cup qualifiers and scoring in a 3-0 win over the Maldives. However, India also drew against Bangladesh and lost to Hong Kong, making qualification for 2027 challenging.

India will next face Singapore in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers on October 9 (away) and October 14 (home), potentially giving fans a chance to see Chhetri don the national jersey once again.