Indian Football Captain Sunil Chhetri invoked an array of emotions with a heartfelt post on Instagram. The post comes ahead of Chhetri’s final game for the Indian national team against Kuwait. Widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers in India’s history, Chhetri announced his retirement last month, marking the end of an era.
“These last few days, I’ve been caught in a bit of a dilemma. Now that there’s a number to my days with the National Team, what’s the right route to take – do I count every day, every training session? Or do I simply turn up without the thought of how this is coming to an end?” Sunil Chhetri wrote on Instagram.
“Over time, I seemed to have found middle ground. They say, count your blessings. And every single day I get to be on the pitch is a blessing that I’ve never taken for granted. So I’ve decided to count my sessions, but with a deep sense of gratitude. There’s no apprehension. Instead, there’s a feeling of being indebted to the sport, to my team, that I get to do this,” he added.
Sunil Chhetri set to play his last match
As we count down to this historic match, football fans across the country reflect on Chhetri’s remarkable journey and the profound impact he’s had on Indian football. His on-field brilliance and off-field leadership have inspired generations of players and have helped elevate the sport’s status in India. Sunil Chhetri is the third-highest active goalscorer in the world with 94 goals in 150 appearances just behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.
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India face Kuwait in a crucial do-or-die match
The upcoming match against Kuwait holds immense significance for India’s FIFA World Cup Qualifiers journey. Following a dismal performance against Afghanistan in their previous two games, the Indian Football Team finds itself in a vulnerable position, with just two teams qualifying for the third round after six matches. They began their campaign with a 1-0 victory against Kuwait, but a 3-0 setback to Qatar in Bhubaneshwar did not assist their case, and the draw and loss to Afghanistan have only made India’s task more difficult.
Although India is now second in the group with four points from as many games, the Sunil Chhetri-led team is just ahead of Afghanistan on goal difference. India must win both of its remaining games and cannot afford to lose another point to move to the next round. With Chhetri bidding farewell to international football, hopes are high for a fitting end to his illustrious career.
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