Indian football icon Sunil Chhetri arrives at the NSCBI Airport in Kolkata, on May 29, 2024.
| Photo Credit: PTI

Approaching his international retirement, Indian football talisman Sunil Chhetri on Wednesday said he remains indebted to his teammates, and the sport, for helping him become one of the country’s greatest players.

The Indian team arrived in the city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Kuwait on June 6, which will be the 39-year-old Chhetri’s final outing in the blue jersey.

All eyes were on the goal-machine as the players exited the airport.

Dilemma

“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?” said Chhetri.

Chhetri, who has scored 94 goals from 150 international appearances, said he is counting his blessings every day.

“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.

“If I could, I would capture this feeling in a box. Or instead, I’ll take it to my next training session.”

Any India match in the City of Joy draws much fanfare. However, this is not just any international game.

Earn three points, and the Blue Tigers will take a giant leap towards a first-ever appearance in Round 3 of the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers, while also inching closer to automatic qualification for the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027.

Chhetri had earlier this month announced that June 6 will be his last appearance in the international arena.

After Bhubneswar, the India number 11 and the other 26 around him will continue their training camp in Kolkata, where they will have their first on-field training session on Thursday.

India’s Sunil Chhetri (R).
| Photo Credit: AFP

Forward Parthib Gogoi and defender Muhammad Hammad were left out due to injuries as India announced a 27-member squad for the World Cup qualifying match against Kuwait on June 6 which would mark the end of long-serving captain and ace striker Sunil Chhetri’s international career.

The squad for the game to be held in Kolkata was announced by head coach Igor Stimac.

A total of 32 players had been camping in Bhubaneswar, out of which five — Phurba Lachenpa, Parthib, Imran Khan, Hammad and Jithin MS — have been released from the camp.

“All of them were very professional and hard-working. The competition is really strong amongst them, especially in the positions of Jithin and Parthib,” Stimac said in a media release.

“Parthib and Hammad suffered minor injuries a few days back and will need 7-14 days of rest,” he added without specifying the nature of injuries.

The remaining players will continue to train in Bhubaneswar until May 29 when they will travel to Kolkata.

The Blue Tigers will face Kuwait at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on June 6.

Following the match against Kuwait, India will travel to take on Qatar on June 11 in their last two matches of Group A.

India are currently placed second in the group, with four points from four matches.

The top two teams in the group will qualify for Round 3 of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and book their berth at the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027.

Chhetri, 39, announced his decision to retire from international football on May 17.

The match against Kuwait will bring the curtains down on a glittering 19-year career during which he became India’s top goal-scorer with 94 strikes.

He will leave the scene as India’s most-capped player after competing in 151 matches at the end of his swansong contest.

Chhetri will bow out third in the list of goal scorers among active players behind Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

He currently sits fourth in the all-time list of international goal-scorers.

The Squad

Goalkeepers: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, Vishal Kaith.

Defenders: Amey Ranawade, Anwar Ali, Jay Gupta, Lalchungnunga, Mehtab Singh, Narender, Nikhil Poojary, Rahul Bheke, Subhasish Bose.

Midfielders: Anirudh Thapa, Brandon Fernandes, Edmund Lalrindika, Jeakson Singh Thounaojam, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Liston Colaco, Mahesh Singh Naorem, Nandhakumar Sekar, Sahal Abdul Samad, Suresh Singh Wangjam.

Forwards: David Lalhlansanga, Manvir Singh, Rahim Ali, Sunil Chhetri, Vikram Partap Singh.