India head coach Khalid Jamil has clarified that the national team door remains wide open for Indian football icon Sunil Chhetri, even though the 40-year-old striker has been left out of India’s squad for the upcoming CAFA Nations Cup.
Chhetri, who has been the face of Indian football for nearly two decades, was notably absent from India’s 23-man squad for the tournament in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, set to kick off on August 29. This event marks Jamil’s first task as the country’s head coach since taking charge earlier this month.
Speaking to PTI after announcing the final squad on August 25, Jamil stressed that Chhetri remains a vital figure for the national side.
“There is no better quality player in India than him. So, when he is available, why not? We need his experience. He is a legend and he has given so much to the nation for so many years,” Jamil said.
“If he is available for the matches, there is no problem. We will see. If he wants to play, then why not? He has done well last year as well. He has scored goals,” he added.
Chhetri’s omission from the initial 35-man probables list was deliberate, according to Jamil. The coach explained that he had already discussed the decision with the striker and wanted to explore a different mix of players, using the CAFA Cup as a platform to prepare for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers. Jamil emphasised that Chhetri could still feature in India’s future matches, even if he skips this tournament.
The decision has reignited discussions about Chhetri’s international career. The forward had announced his retirement from national duty in June 2024 but returned briefly earlier this year at the urging of then-coach Manolo Marquez. In that comeback, Chhetri featured in four Asian Cup qualifiers, including scoring in a 3-0 victory over the Maldives. However, India’s campaign faced setbacks, with a draw against Bangladesh and a loss to Hong Kong complicating their qualification hopes for 2027.
Looking ahead, India will face Singapore in their Asian Cup qualifiers on October 9 (away) and October 14 (home), giving fans a potential glimpse of whether Chhetri will once again don the national jersey.
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