Will Sunil Chhetri start for India against Bangladesh in AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers?

The 40-year-old found the net in his first game after coming out of retirement.

India will be desperate to get off to the perfect start when they host Bangladesh at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong in the opening Group C encounter of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers.

Chhetri and the Blue Tigers are coming off an impressive 3-0 win over the Maldives courtesy of a trio of headed goals from Rahul Bheke, Liston Colaco, and Sunil Chhetri. The occasion marked the first time the Blue Tigers tasted victory in five games under Manolo Marquez and ended their 489-day winless run for over a year.

The Blue Tigers will be facing the Bengal Tigers for the first time since the opening game of the 2021 SAFF Championships. The last game saw India succumb to a 1-1 draw after the Bengal Tigers managed to score an unlikely goal in the 74th minute through Yeasin Arafat.

The visitors enter the encounter looking to register their first win in 2025, aiming to start their AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers with a flying start. With the addition of former Premier League midfielder Hamza Choudhury to their squad, the Bengal Tigers have a different feel about their chances.

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Will Sunil Chhetri play for India?

Yes, Sunil Chhetri is expected to play on Tuesday after helping Manolo Marquez secure his first win as the Indian head coach. The 40-year-old appeared to be back to his best as he closed the show against the Maldives on 19 March 2025.

Despite scoring his 95th international goal against the Maldives, the Indian icon will be hungry for a major goal against the Bengal Tigers.

With only five goals separating the forward from the coveted 100-goal mark, the forward will have all the motivation he needs to fire on all cylinders against the Red and Green. Tuesday presents the latest opportunity where he will have to be at his best if he hopes to steer his nation to the next stage.

In his pursuit of helping India to the AFC Asian Cup in 2027, Chhetri will aim to be in full force when his side takes on Bangladesh on Tuesday. Considering the quality within India, they should get their job done without breaking much sweat against the Red and Green.

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