Khalid Jamil hints at possible return of Sunil Chhetri to India: “He is a legend”

India head coach Khalid Jamil has clarified that the door remains open for football icon Sunil Chhetri, despite the 40-year-old striker being left out of India’s squad for the upcoming CAFA Nations Cup.

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

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

He added, “If he is available for the matches, there is no problem. We will see. If he wants to play, then why not? He has done well last year and scored goals.”

Jamil explained that Chhetri’s omission from the initial 35-man probables list was intentional. The coach had already discussed it with Chhetri, aiming to experiment with a different mix of players and use the CAFA Cup as preparation for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers. Chhetri, however, remains in contention for future matches.

The striker’s international career continues to generate debate. Chhetri had retired from national duty in June 2024 but returned briefly earlier this year at the request of then-coach Manolo Marquez. During that comeback, he played in four Asian Cup qualifiers, scoring in a 3-0 win over the Maldives. However, India drew against Bangladesh and lost to Hong Kong, complicating their qualification hopes for 2027.

Looking ahead, India will face Singapore in their Asian Cup qualifiers on October 9 (away) and October 14 (home), giving fans a potential chance to see whether Chhetri will once again feature for the national team.