Indian football legend Sunil Chhetri made his return as captain during the international friendly match against the Maldives on Wednesday at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong, where he was included in the starting lineup. At 40 years old, he is gearing up for his first match in nine months after making a surprising comeback from retirement.

On March 8, Chhetri announced he was coming out of retirement, a decision he made last year after India failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. The team is now setting its sights on the 2027 Asian Cup. Chhetri, who ranks as the fourth-highest men's international goalscorer in history, last played in June 2024 during a World Cup qualifier against Kuwait, in front of nearly 59,000 fans in Kolkata.

Even after stepping away from international play, Chhetri proved he still has what it takes with a standout performance in the 2024-25 ISL season, where he scored 12 goals in 24 matches, making him the second-highest scorer overall and the top scorer among Indian players.

India is all set to make its debut in Shillong

The friendly match for Manolo Marquez's team is a significant occasion, as the Blue Tigers will be playing in the football-loving hill town for the very first time.

During the pre-match press conference on Tuesday, Marquez shared, "This is our first time here, but I've collaborated with many coaches and players from this area. I always knew it was a beautiful place."

He reminisced about watching the Durand Cup in Shillong last year, saying, "I was amazed by the ground, the crowd, the atmosphere—everything was fantastic. I even thought it would be awesome if the national team could play here someday."

For Marquez, this match is a great chance to prepare his squad ahead of his first competitive game as India's head coach, which is just a week away—against Bangladesh on March 25 in an Asian Cup qualifier.

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