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India men's football team captain Sunil Chhetri on June 5 urged the media to not ask him about "how are you feeling?" ahead of his farewell game. Chhetri will take the field for the last time on the international stage in India's crucial FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Kuwait at Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata on June 6. He wants the focus to be on the match and not his retirement.
"I think most of us have met already 20 days back and we have spoken about my last game. That's done," Chhetri said on the eve of the second round match.
"We are here only and only to speak about Kuwait and India and I'm trying really hard to not think about this game like this."
No talk in dressing room about retirement
The 39-year-old Chhetri wants the team to play with a free mind and not play under the pressure of his farewell game. He revealed that the team doesn't talk about it in the dressing room. India need a win against Kuwait in the second round to confirm their place in third round of FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers.
"I again request... it's not about me and my last name, it's about us and Kuwait. And inside me I'm fighting a small battle, please don't make it worse asking 'how are you feeling', again and again.”
"Only you guys who are putting this question... We don't talk about it in the dressing room. We are still the same, we are still having fun. There is not a talk about the last game, we are done with it.
"We really need to win this game. Once we win this game, it gives us a great chance to go to the third round, which we have never done.
"So all our might, everything that we have is just pointed towards fighting it out, because one thing we know for sure, this is not going to be easy.
"And one thing we are very happy is that we are playing in Kolkata, we are going to have tremendous support. So it's going to be a battle, and the good thing is we are all ready."
Why a win against Kuwait is the need of the hour?
If India advance to the third round, they will be in the bracket of top 18 teams in Asia. They will be divided into three groups of six sides and play on home-away basis to fight for the eight places in 2026 World Cup.
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