Sunil Chhetri Comes Out of Retirement to Bolster India Ahead of Crucial Asian Cup Qualifiers

India’s legendary footballer Sunil Chhetri has made a dramatic return to international football, coming out of retirement to represent the national team in the upcoming March international window. The 40-year-old, India’s all-time leading goalscorer, will feature in matches against Maldives and Bangladesh later this month, marking his unexpected comeback after stepping away from the national side in June 2024.  

Chhetri, who had bid farewell to international football following a goalless draw against Kuwait in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers, cited mental fatigue rather than physical decline as the reason for his retirement. “The retirement decision was not because of physical aspect, I am still fit, running, chasing, defending, the hard work is not difficult, the reason is to do with the mental aspect,” Chhetri had explained.  

Despite stepping away from the national setup, the talismanic striker has been in sparkling form for Bengaluru FC in the Indian Super League (ISL). With 12 goals this season, Chhetri is not only the league’s highest-scoring Indian player but also second in the Golden Boot race. His contributions — 12 goals and two assists across 23 appearances — have been instrumental in Bengaluru’s resurgence, helping them reach the playoffs after finishing near the bottom last season.  

Chhetri’s return is largely motivated by India’s critical path ahead. Drawn alongside Bangladesh, Hong Kong (China), and Singapore in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifying group, India faces a challenging road to the continental tournament. Head coach Manolo Marquez highlighted Chhetri’s importance to the team’s chances.  

“The qualification for the Asian Cup is very crucial for us. Given the importance of the tournament and the matches ahead, I discussed with Sunil Chhetri about making a comeback to strengthen the National Team. He agreed, and so we have included him in the squad,” Marquez explained.  

India will kick off their March campaign with a friendly against Maldives on March 19 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong. This will serve as preparation for the crucial Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh shortly after.  

At the last Asian Cup, India endured a dismal campaign, exiting in the group stage after losing all three games. With Chhetri’s vast experience and goal-scoring pedigree, the hope is that his return can provide both leadership and firepower to a team desperate for continental success.  

As Chhetri eyes a potential hat-trick of Asian Cup appearances, all eyes will be on how Marquez deploys him — whether as the trusted No. 9 leading the line or as an experienced impact substitute off the bench. Either way, his return is a massive boost for Indian football at a pivotal moment.