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Former India captain Sunil Chhetri has not been included in the 35-man probables list for the CAFA Nations Cup 2025, announced by newly appointed head coach Khalid Jamil on August 16, 2025.
The tournament will be held in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan beginning August 29. However, the All India Football Federation (AIFF) did not provide any official explanation for Chhetri’s omission. When asked, AIFF officials redirected questions to the coach, who was not available for comment.
Chhetri’s absence has triggered a storm of reactions online. For many fans, leaving out India’s most iconic footballer came as a shock. Some expressed disappointment with the new coach, while others supported the decision, calling it a necessary step toward a “new era” for Indian football.
https://twitter.com/AllIndiaFtbl/status/1956640050315493843
At 41 years old, Chhetri had officially retired from international football in June 2024 after playing his farewell match against Kuwait. Yet, he made a surprise comeback in March 2025 when then-head coach Manolo Marquez requested him to join the squad for the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.
Since his return, Chhetri has featured in four matches, scoring once in India’s 3-0 victory over the Maldives. However, India’s recent run has been poor, with a 0-0 draw against Bangladesh, a 0-1 loss to Hong Kong, and a 0-2 defeat to Thailand in a friendly—results that have put their 2027 Asian Cup qualification hopes under pressure.
It seems unlikely that his exclusion is due to poor form. Chhetri was in strong touch during the last Indian Super League (ISL) season, netting 13 goals in 26 matches and finishing as the second-highest scorer in the league.
This has fueled speculation about the real reason behind his absence. Some reports suggest that he may have asked to be left out or is being rested. Adding to the uncertainty, his club Bengaluru FC has not started pre-season training yet and recently made headlines after suspending salaries for first-team players and staff due to doubts over the future of the ISL.
India will play in Group B of the tournament. Their fixtures are:
August 29 – vs Tajikistan
September 1 – vs Iran
September 4 – vs Afghanistan
The national team has already started training in Bengaluru with 22 players, while the remaining 13 will join later after finishing their Durand Cup commitments. The AIFF has also urged clubs to release players for the international competition.
