Sunil Chhetri, the legendary Indian footballer, bade an emotional farewell to international football in front of a capacity crowd of 68,000 at Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata. As the fans cheered their icon, Chhetri’s parents Kharga and Sushila, his wife Sonam Bhattacharya, and numerous officials and former players, watched with admiration and pride. However, the Indian football team was unable to provide a victory on this momentous occasion, settling for a goalless draw against Kuwait in a critical FIFA World Cup Qualifier on Thursday, significantly damaging their chances of advancing to the next round.
The atmosphere was charged with emotion as Chhetri stepped onto the field for his final international appearance. Despite India’s lack of major footballing success, Chhetri managed to create a fervent following for the sport in the country. However, a victory in this match was crucial for India’s progression in the World Cup qualifiers, and the draw leaves them in a precarious position. With five points, India needed a win to almost guarantee a spot in the third round for the first time in history. Now, they face an uphill battle as they prepare to face Asian champions Qatar on June 11. Failure to win could see Kuwait, who currently have four points, advance if they win against Afghanistan on the same day.
At 39, Chhetri concluded his illustrious 19-year international career as the fourth highest scorer in international football with 94 goals, trailing only Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (128), Iran’s Ali Daei (108), and Argentina’s Lionel Messi (106). Such an achievement is especially remarkable given the modest footballing landscape of India. FIFA had already recognized Chhetri’s legendary status following his retirement announcement on May 16.
As Chhetri took his final bow, the atmosphere in the stadium was electrifying. Fans chanted “Sunil, Sunil” as he completed a lap of honor with folded hands, acknowledging their adulation. The groundbreaking forward, who scored on his debut against Pakistan on June 12, 2005, in a 1-1 draw, couldn’t replicate the magic this time around.
The match itself witnessed a spirited performance from Kuwait, who seemed a much-improved side compared to their 0-1 home defeat against India. The first half buzzed with action as both teams created numerous opportunities but failed to capitalize. In the fourth minute, Eid Al-Rashidi’s through ball found Daham, who outpaced Nikhil Poojary, only to be thwarted by a crucial save from Indian goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu.
India’s response came in the 11th minute when Liston Colaco delivered a low cross from the left wing, aiming for Chhetri’s 95th goal.
. However, Hasan Alanezi’s timely sliding tackle negated the chance. Anwar Ali’s header from the resulting corner narrowly missed the goal, maintaining the suspense.
Kuwait continued to press, and their next significant opportunity came with Al-Rashidi attempting to lob Gurpreet with a chipped pass from Al-Harbi, which sailed over the crossbar. Meanwhile, debutant Jay Gupta demonstrated his capability with an impressive low cross that was eventually cleared by the Kuwait defense.
India tried to capitalize on several set pieces, including a free-kick in the 28th minute after Poojary’s commendable run down the right wing. Unfortunately, Thapa’s delivery was ineffective, failing to find the net. Just before halftime, Thapa’s superb ball into the box saw Sahal Abdul Samad’s shot blocked, and the rebound effort from Colaco also missed the mark, hitting the side netting.
As the second half kicked off, Igor Stimac made a strategic substitution by bringing in Rahim Ali, with Brandon Fernandes and Chheri supporting the attack. However, Rahim couldn’t convert his chances, including a one-on-one scenario with Kuwait’s keeper Sulaiman Abdulghafor. Moments later, Gurpreet once again showcased his goalkeeping prowess by denying Rashidi.
Tensions peaked in the 74th minute when Kuwait’s penalty claims were denied by Chinese referee Fu Ming, leading to heated confrontations. The subsequent mini-brawl concluded with yellow cards for Indian debutant Edmund and Kuwait’s Sultan Alenezi.
The final moments saw Edmund rallying the crowd’s support for one last push. Despite setting up a promising free-kick, Brandon Fernandes’ poor delivery dashed any remaining hopes for a winning goal, marking the end of a highly charged match.
Stimac’s decision to debut left-back Jay Gupta in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Chhetri as the sole striker showcased a bold approach. Gupta, who recently made his league debut for FC Goa in the Indian Super League, faced a baptism of fire on the international stage.
As the evening came to a close, the reality of India’s footballing challenges became ever clearer. Chhetri will continue his club career with Bengaluru FC for another year, but his absence on the international stage will undoubtedly be felt deeply.
