Why isn’t Sunil Chhetri playing in the 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifier between Bangladesh and India?

India will take on Bangladesh in their penultimate qualifier for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup at the Dhaka National Staidum on Tuesday.

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The result of the match is immaterial as both teams have exited the qualifying race. The Indian campaign ended on October 14 in Goa, when the country squandered a 1-0 lead and lost 1-2 to Singapore.

The defeat left the Blue Tigers with two points from four games. Even if India wins its remaining tie, it can only manage eight points, something Singapore and Hong Kong have already secured and will surely surpass.

Bangladesh also has two points.

Will Sunil Chhetri play in Bangladesh vs India AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier?

India’s all-time top scorer Sunil Chhetri was not part of the squad that traveled to Bangladesh for the match.

Earlier this month, the forward announced that his career in India had come to an end after the Blue Tigers withdrew from the final qualifying round for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup following the defeat to Singapore.

Chhetri had initially announced his retirement in June 2024 after a farewell match at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata.

However, he came out of retirement when the then Indian head coach Manolo Marquez asked him to make himself available for India’s matches for the 2027 Asian Cup qualifiers.

In the six matches Chhetri has played for India since he retired, he has scored just once.

Published on November 18, 2025