Sunil Chhetri made a triumphant return to international football, scoring during his comeback in a 3-0 friendly match against the Maldives in Shillong on Wednesday. At 40 years old, Chhetri had retired from international play last year but was called back by head coach Manolo Marquez ahead of the international window.

As the team captain, Chhetri was part of the starting lineup. Rahul Bheke opened the scoring for India in the 35th minute, followed by Liston Colaco, who netted the second goal in the 66th minute. Chhetri then added the third with a glancing header in the 77th minute, marking his 95th international goal, before being substituted for Irfan Yadwad in the 82nd minute.

Full match highlights of India vs Maldives:

Highlights from the match between India and the Maldives reveal that all three goals scored by India came from headers following corner kicks.

In justifying his decision to bring Chhetri back into the squad, Marquez stated, “He is the Indian player with the most goals this season. Age is irrelevant; whether a player is 20, 40, or even my grandfather at 87, if they are in better shape, they will be included. The national team focuses on winning games, not on player development. We need to select players who can contribute to our success.”

India will face Bangladesh in their opening match of the AFC Asian Cup qualification campaign.

This match poses a significant challenge for India, as they must set aside their historical dominance over their neighbors. The Bangladesh national team has welcomed Hamza Choudhury, who recently switched his international allegiance with FIFA's approval.

Choudhury arrived in Bangladesh to much excitement, and the 27-year-old aims to leverage his Premier League experience. Unlike his usual defensive roles at the club level, he may adopt a more offensive position for Bangladesh, where his strength and versatility could prove advantageous. Conversely, if he plays as a defensive midfielder or right-back, it may become increasingly difficult for Chhetri and his teammates to breach the Bangladesh defense or gain control in midfield.

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