A 39-year-old Sunil Chhetri continues to be the driving force for the Indian national men’s team, his longevity and consistency are unparalleled. With 93 goals since his 2005 debut, he remains one of the sharpest players for the Blue Tigers. However, the looming question of when he’ll hang up his boots persists.
Despite past “Next Sunil Chhetri” hopefuls fading away swiftly, the search for a successor becomes crucial as India prepares for the veteran forward’s eventual departure. Head coach Igor Stimac aims to address the post-Chhetri era by unearthing and nurturing a prodigious talent.
Speaking to the media ahead of the Uzbekistan clash, the Indian Coach may have suggested 25-year-old Ishan Pandita as the rightful successor to Sunil Chhetri in the Indian set-up.
“Ishan Pandita is one of the players we believe can be there for us when Sunil Chhetri is not there.”
Ishan Pandita heralded as the ‘next big thing’ for Indian football since his move to FC Goa in 2020, faced limited game time, hindering his growth. The youngster having made his debut against Hong Kong last year, is yet to make his starting debut for the Blue Tigers.
Despite sparse appearances for both FC Goa and Jamshedpur FC, his technical prowess earned praise from various coaches. A recent move to Kerala Blasters has provided the much-needed playing time for the 25-year-old. Known for securing crucial goals, Pandita, a former Lorca forward, has the potential to transform into the forward India has long aspired for if entrusted with regular minutes.
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