India vs Maldives: Sunil Chhetri’s return in focus as Blue Tigers prepare for Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh

India vs Maldives: Sunil Chhetri’s return in focus as Blue Tigers prepare for Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh

The Indian men’s football team is set to host Maldives in a FIFA International Friendly at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on Wednesday.

While it’s a preparatory match for Manolo Marquez’s side ahead of the all-important AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifier against Bangladesh on March 25, all eyes will be on Sunil Chhetri, who will feature in his first match for India since announcing his return to international football.

The match will also mark the first time the Blue Tigers are playing in Shillong.

“It is the first time we are playing here, but I have worked with a lot of coaches and players from here. I knew it’s a very nice place. I remember when I watched the Durand Cup in Shillong last year, I said, ‘Wow, the ground, crowd, atmosphere, everything is nice.’ I’m not joking, I said it’d be great if one day, the national team could play here,” Marquez said in the pre-match press conference.

For Marquez, his first competitive match since becoming India’s head coach in July 2024 is a week away, and the friendly presents a great opportunity to fine-tune his team before the crucial fixture.

“It’s a friendly game to prepare for the Asian Cup qualifier. Obviously, we want to win. We knew that the target during the previous FIFA windows was to arrive in the best possible condition for the first competitive match against Bangladesh next Tuesday. I don’t think we will play with the same team against Bangladesh that will play tomorrow,” he said.

Márquez also confirmed Chhetri’s involvement in the friendly match that will mark his 152nd cap for India.

“For sure, Sunil will play some minutes. I don’t know whether as a starter or from the bench. We can use six substitutions, so 17 players can play, and I think Sunil will be one of them,” Marquez confirmed.

“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,” said Marquez.

Ranked 162 in the world, 36 places below India, Maldives is also using the friendly match to prepare for its Asian Cup qualifier against Philippines next Tuesday.

Maldives head coach Ali Suzain said, “Thank you for the hospitality here. We’re playing Philippines on the 25th, so it’s a preparation match for us. But it’s an important one since India and Maldives are two strong sides in this region. I hope it will be a good fight.”

“Although we haven’t played much at the international level these days, I have been with these players for a long time. I know them very well and I know their strengths and weaknesses and how to work on them. The players also have confidence in me. Maldives is a football country. Every island has football pitches. We will give our best for the people of Maldives,” he added.