Khalid Jamil Praises Sunil Chhetri's Continued Role in Team India.

New Delhi, Aug 25 (PTI) - At 41 years of age, Sunil Chhetri remains unparalleled in terms of quality among Indian footballers and will continue to be part of the national team as long as he is available, according to new India head coach Khalid Jamil. The coach stated this during a press conference in Bengaluru, where he discussed his selection choices and future plans. Chhetri has been excluded from the national camp for the CAFA Nations Cup starting August 29, as Jamil takes the opportunity to prepare the team for the significant Asian Cup qualifiers in October. Chhetri will, however, rejoin the lineup for the matches against Singapore on October 9 and October 14.

Jamil emphasized Chhetri's irreplaceable experience and contributions, saying, "There is no better quality player in India than him. We need his experience. He is a legend and has given so much to the nation for years." Chhetri retired from international football after a match against Kuwait last June but returned in March this year to aid the team in the Asian Cup qualifiers third round, under the request of former head coach Manolo Marquez.

Having played four matches since his comeback, Chhetri scored once in the 3-0 victory over the Maldives. India, however, drew 0-0 with Bangladesh and lost narrowly to Hong Kong 0-1 in the qualifiers, complicating their path to the continental tournament in 2027. Adding to these challenges, India was defeated 0-2 by Thailand in an international friendly, leading to Marquez's resignation following a series of underwhelming performances.

Jamil spoke to Chhetri regarding his exclusion from the CAFA Nations Cup camp, and when asked if Chhetri would like to be part of the team for the Asian Cup qualifying matches next year, Jamil reassured, "If he is available for the matches, there is no problem. We will see. If he wants to play, then why not? He has scored goals."

Delay in signing contract with AIFF

Initially appointed as India head coach on August 1, Jamil signed his contract on August 12 for two years, with the possibility of a one-year extension based on performance. He clarified the delay, saying, "I was busy with Durand Cup matches for Jamshedpur FC. I wanted to focus on one role—either the club or the nation. There was a little gap because of the ongoing Durand Cup matches. Eventually, the management of Jamshedpur FC encouraged me to prioritize the nation." Jamil expressed no hesitation in accepting the India head coach role.

CAFA Nations Cup Opponents

India is placed in Group B for the CAFA Nations Cup, facing co-hosts Tajikistan on August 29, followed by Iran on September 1 and Afghanistan on September 4. The concluding and third-place matches will occur on September 8 in Hisor and Tashkent, Uzbekistan. Jamil acknowledged the mixed strength of Tajikistan’s squad and the challenges ahead: "Tajikistan will have a mixed team from senior and junior players. They’ve announced their squad. Regardless of their composition, they are a good team."

Facing this challenge, Jamil stated, "If I fail, I will not blame anybody; it will be my fault. So, I have to focus on this tournament and then the Asian Cup." On changing the playing style, Jamil added, "The playing style depends on the situation. We will adapt based on player availability and the opponent. We need time to establish a coherent playing style."

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