‘Not the right time to talk about Sunil Chhetri’s retirement’, says Indian coach Khalid Jamil

By Anuj Mishra

Margoa (Goa) [India], October 15, 2025: Indian football team coach Khalid Jamil feels it is not the rigth time to discuss about the retirement of veteran Indian footballer Sunil Chhetri. Khalid Jamil remarks came after Indian team slumped to a stunning 1-2 defeat against lower-ranked Singapore in their 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualifying game in Goa on Tuesday.

Earlier this year, the Indian football legend had come out of retirement to bolster the Blue Tigers’ campaign in the third round of the Asian Cup qualifiers scheduled for March 2025.

Chhetri had originally announced his retirement from international football in June 2024 after India’s draw against Kuwait in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers, a match where he also found the net for one final time.

However, despite his presence and leadership, India couldn’t secure a win in Goa against a lower-ranked Singapore side. Speaking to official broadcaster JioHotstar and later at the post-match press conference, Jamil said, “Yes, we will think about (Sunil Chhetri’s retirement) later. This is not the right time to talk about it.

Just as Virat Kohli chose the perfect moment to bid farewell to Test and T20I cricket, leaving behind a legacy of dominance, discipline, and inspiration, perhaps the time has come for Sunil Chhetri to do the same for Indian football. Having carried the nation’s hopes for nearly two decades, Chhetri’s unmatched contribution to the Blue Tigers has already cemented his place among the greats. But as Indian football looks to rebuild for the future, transitioning leadership and giving younger talent room to grow could be the next logical step.

Coming back to the press conference, the newly appointed coach attributed the defeat to lapses in focus at key moments.

“Even after starting well in the second half, we conceded a soft goal due to defensive lapses. Despite playing good football, we missed several chances. It ultimately came down to a lack of concentration at crucial times,” Jamil added.

With the loss, India have slipped to the bottom of Group C in the third round of qualifiers. They are level on points and goal difference with Bangladesh, but trail due to fewer goals scored.