As the Indian Super League (ISL) grapples with an indefinite suspension amid financial and administrative uncertainties, Sunil Chhetri – the 41-year-old forward for Bengaluru FC – finds himself at the centre of a narrative that mirrors the sport’s broader struggles. Just nine months after unretiring from international duty, Chhetri’s club career hangs in the balance, with Bengaluru FC halting salaries for its first-team players and staff, including the veteran striker. In a candid statement last week, Chhetri voiced the collective anxiety within the ecosystem: “Everybody is worried, hurt, and scared.”
This development comes at a time when Chhetri, long regarded as India’s most enduring football export, continues to defy age on the pitch. On October 2, he participated in a light-hearted exhibition match organized by Puma India, donning the Bengaluru FC colours alongside an unlikely teammate: Jamaican sprint legend Usain Bolt. The 5v5 showdown against Mumbai City FC in Mumbai featured Chhetri scoring a brace and providing two assists in a 4-2 win, blending nostalgia with novelty. Chhetri later recounted a humorous anecdote from the event, joking about offering Bolt the No. 9 jersey only to receive a swift rejection “under 9.58 seconds” – a nod to the sprinter’s world-record 100m time.
Born on August 3, 1984, in Secunderabad to an Indian Army officer father and a former Nepali women’s international mother, Chhetri’s journey began in the dusty fields of Delhi’s local leagues. He turned professional with Mohun Bagan in 2002, scoring 14 goals in his debut season to help secure the National Football League title. Brief stints abroad followed – a season with Major League Soccer’s Kansas City Wizards in 2010 and a loan spell at Sporting CP’s reserves in Portugal in 2012 – but it was his return to Indian soil that defined his legacy. With Bengaluru FC since 2013, Chhetri has amassed 75 goals in 302 ISL appearances, holding records for the most goals and appearances in the league.
Internationally, Chhetri’s tally stands at an unmatched 95 goals in 155 caps for the Blue Tigers, placing him fourth on the all-time list behind Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and the late Ali Daei. He captained India to triumphs in the Nehru Cup (2007, 2009, 2012), SAFF Championship (2011, 2015, 2021, 2023), and the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup, which ended a 27-year Asian Cup drought. His four international hat-tricks and seven AIFF Player of the Year awards underscore a career built on consistency rather than flair.
Yet, for all his accolades – including the Arjuna Award (2011), Padma Shri (2019), and Khel Ratna (2021) – Chhetri’s path has been one of quiet perseverance amid systemic challenges. FIFA’s 2022 documentary “Captain Fantastic” captured this ethos, portraying him not as a prodigy but as a symbol of resilience in a footballing nation often overshadowed by cricket.
The plot thickened in May 2024, when Chhetri announced his international retirement ahead of India’s FIFA World Cup qualifier against Kuwait on June 6. The goalless draw that followed marked the end of an era, with the 39-year-old stepping aside to pave the way for younger talent. “It wasn’t about fatigue,” he said in an emotional video. “It was about giving opportunities to the next generation.”
That retirement lasted less than a year. In March 2025, newly appointed head coach Manolo Márquez – citing a dearth of reliable strikers – urged Chhetri’s return for the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers. The All India Football Federation (AIFF) confirmed his inclusion in the 26-man squad, framing it as a “wise decision” for a team in transition. Chhetri obliged, scoring in a 3-0 friendly win over Maldives on March 19 with a header in the 75th minute. However, his international hiatus was short-lived; by August, he was omitted from the 35 probables for the CAFA Nations Cup, a preparatory tournament for October’s Asian Cup qualifiers. Coach Khalid Jamil, who took over in late 2025, clarified it as a tactical choice to test emerging players, insisting, “Sunil is a legend… one of my favourite players.”
Critics, though, see Chhetri’s yo-yo between retirement and recall as a symptom of deeper issues. “It lays bare the paucity of quality strikers in a country of 1.4 billion,” noted a recent analysis. Despite grassroots initiatives and the ISL’s growth since 2014, India languishes at 127th in FIFA rankings, with limited success in continental competitions. Chhetri himself has advocated for structural reforms, emphasizing youth development over reliance on veterans.
At the club level, his form remains a bright spot. In the 2024-25 ISL season, Chhetri netted 12 goals and two assists in 23 appearances, finishing as the top Indian scorer and second in the golden boot race. A hat-trick against Kerala Blasters on December 7, 2024 – at 40 years and 126 days – made him the oldest player to achieve the feat in ISL history. Bengaluru’s recent Durand Cup triumph in 2022 and ISL title in 2018-19 owe much to his leadership, yet the current limbo – with the league on hold and no resumption date in sight – underscores the fragility of professional football in India.
Chhetri’s story is one of triumphs tempered by trials. As he navigates this latest chapter, questions linger: Will the ISL resume in time for Bengaluru’s next fixture? And with his international spot uncertain under Jamil, how long can India’s “Captain Fantastic” carry the weight alone? For now, in the midst of salary suspensions and exhibition cameos, Chhetri embodies the grit that has defined Indian football – unyielding, even as the ground shifts beneath his feet.
also read: Vaani AI Bags $400K to Revolutionize Voice Tech in India
Last Updated on: Friday, October 3, 2025 3:50 pm by Business Byte Team | Published by: Business Byte Team on Friday, October 3, 2025 3:50 pm | News Categories: Uncategorised
About Author
