Sunil Chhetri opens up about India vs Bangladesh draw, plans for next AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers

Sunil Chhetri opens up about India vs Bangladesh draw, plans for next AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers

India looked to start afresh in the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers after a disastrous 2023 tournament in Qatar. But its first competitive match under new coach Manolo Marquez ended in a goalless draw at home against lower-ranked Bangladesh in March.

“The initial feeling after the Bangladesh game was that we let ourselves down, let the country down,” India’s captain Sunil Chhetri, who came out of retirement before the window, told the AIFF website.

“After I saw the replays, I thought we, as a team, could have done so much more. It was a huge opportunity to take the lead in the table, playing Bangladesh at home. We should have done so many things better.”

India, the top seed in its group, played a goalless draw against the neighbouring nation for the first time since 1999, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong.

“Ending up with just a point, I think we players have no one else but ourselves to blame. We didn’t turn up the way we should have,” Chhetri said.

“And that is the reason why we drew the game. We’ve talked about it, we’ve seen the videos, and we can’t wait to rectify it.”

India plays Hong Kong in its next qualifier and will play a warm-up match against Thailand on June 4. For Chhetri, the country’s record goalscorer and its most experienced players, the window will be crucial to help the Blue Tigers secure three back-to-back Asian Cup qualifications for the first time.

“We should qualify for every Asian Cup, and it’s mandatory. But I don’t want to put pressure on the boys and the team. Let’s take one game at a time. Hong Kong, of course, is going to be very crucial,” Chhetri added.

Published on May 26, 2025