Sunil Chhetri’s international comeback was marked by India’s commanding 3-0 victory over the Maldives in an international friendly at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong on March 19. Returning as India’s captain, Chhetri led from the front, showing glimpses of his old form and even bagging the winner for India.
From walking the team out of the tunnel to spearheading India’s attack, Chhetri settled back into the national team setup with ease. India dominated possession from the start but struggled to find the finishing touch in the early stages. However, their threat from set-pieces became evident when Rahul Bheke opened the scoring in the 35th minute with a precise header from a corner.
Chhetri played an active role in India’s forward play, linking up well with Liston Colaco and Naorem Mahesh Singh to create multiple scoring chances. Despite his positioning and sharp runs, India’s finishing lacked precision in open play.
India’s lead was doubled in the 66th minute, again through a set-piece. Colaco, who had been a consistent attacking presence throughout the match, met a well-delivered cross with a clinical header to make it 2-0.
