Every time the Indian football team played on home soil, fans would chant one name—Chhetri, Chhetri. The stadiums and the crowd went wild, and it was clear why. Sunil Chhetri was the only beacon of hope for scoring goals for the national team. The legend retired from the national side in June, representing India for 19 years, leaving behind a legacy of 94 goals in 151 games.
Goalless tournament for the Blue Tigers
Recently, India participated in their first tournament without Chhetri after years, the Intercontinental Cup. India had played this tournament three times earlier and won it twice. However, this time, Syria hammered India in the last group match, winning 3-0. This was supposed to be the chance for the Blue Tigers to prove they could win without Chhetri. Unfortunately, the team failed to secure a win against either Syria or Mauritius. In a tournament with three teams, India finished last. What made it even more humiliating was that India, ranked 124th, couldn’t beat 179th-ranked Mauritius, drawing 0-0. The Indian team went goalless in the tournament.
The struggles of Indian Football
This is, perhaps, one of the lowest points in Indian football history. It’s not the first time, though, because the harsh truth remains—Sunil Chhetri or not, the Indian football team just isn’t good enough.
Looking at this year, the team has managed to win only six games out of 21. Earlier, fans expected a win by one goal, but now, even a draw seems like a major achievement.
India’s biggest issue over the years
The biggest issue plaguing Indian football is the lack of goal scorers. India doesn’t have strong strikers up front. Even during Sunil Chhetri’s time, he was often the sole goalscorer. Names like Manvir Singh, Lallianzuala Chhangte, and Ishan Pandita have been mentioned for years, but the reality is that, even in their prime, they don’t come close to Chhetri. The heartbreaking reality is that Chhetri is irreplaceable, and for the next five to ten years, India doesn’t have a player who could even remotely fill his shoes.
Nothing is helping Indian Football
India may have made some efforts to develop football. The AIFF introduced franchise-based leagues like the Indian Super League (ISL), and brought in world-class coaches like Igor Štimac. However, this hasn’t translated into success for the national team. If you look at the top goal scorers in ISL history, only two Indians—Sunil Chhetri and Lallianzuala Chhangte—feature in the top 10. The rest are foreign players who, despite being past their prime, dominate the league.
Is Indian football really developing?
Over the years, India’s only noteworthy success has come in the SAFF Championship, where mostly South Asian teams compete. Once considered the powerhouse of Indian football in the 1970s, India now doesn’t even rank among the top 20 teams in Asia.
Indian football hasn’t developed significantly over the years. In 1992, when FIFA rankings were first introduced, India was ranked 143rd. Now, in the latest rankings, India is 124th. Unfortunately, Indian football fans will have to wait for many more years to see their team truly grow on the global stage.
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