India football head coach Khalid Jamil has expressed full respect for Sunil Chhetri’s decision to end his international career as the national team prepares for a new phase of rebuilding. Jamil confirmed that Chhetri asked not to be selected for upcoming matches, saying the veteran forward believed it was time for the team to plan its future without him.
Jamil praised the former India captain for his unmatched professionalism over the years, recalling how committed Chhetri remained during training sessions. Jamil mentioned that he has known Chhetri since his teenage years and would always welcome him back if he chose to return. However, the coach acknowledged that the 41-year-old striker did not want discussions around his age to overshadow the team’s progress.
India has already been eliminated from contention for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, making this a transitional period for the squad. Chhetri, who came out of retirement for a second stint last year, scored once in six matches during his return and finished with 95 goals for India, one of the highest tallies in modern men’s international football.
Jamil explained that the focus now is on developing a younger side while maintaining leadership from key senior players like Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Sandesh Jhingan, and Rahul Bheke. Only a small number of footballers above the age of 25 are included in the latest squad for the Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh on November 18.
The national camp begins in Bengaluru on Thursday. Jamil also decided not to select players from Mohun Bagan Super Giant for this camp, citing past challenges when they joined late due to release issues outside the official international match calendar. The coach said that players unavailable from the start of camp will not be considered in order to maintain preparation standards.
After four matches, India sits at the bottom of Group C with two points, and only group winners will secure a place in the finals to be held in Saudi Arabia.