Now it’s the time for someone to have a chance: Sunil Chhetri opens up on international retirement

India’s veteran Sunil Chhetri reckons it is time for someone to have his deserved chance after he recently called it a day from his international career. Chhetri had a glorious career for the Blue Tigers, scoring 94 goals in 151 International caps.

The veteran is the fourth-highest goal-scorer in the history of International football after Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Al Daei. 

Sunil Chhetri played his first international match against Pakistan in 2005 and scored his maiden international goal on his senior debut and since then he hasn’t looked back. Chhetri has performed consistently for India at the top level and he has inspired a lot of young boys and girls to take up the sport.

Chhetri played his last match against Kuwait in the World Cup qualifiers, which ended in a goalless draw.

“I announced my retirement one month before the match. I didn’t want to announce it just after playing a match. I thought a lot and fought against myself. The mature side of me was saying to leave the ground for the new ones. The kid inside me kept saying to play for the country until I’m 60 or 70,” Chhetri revealed in an interview with Lallantop.

“I had not discussed this matter with anyone because I didn’t want anyone’s input in such a personal decision. When I decided, I told my wife, mom, and dad on the same day. My family has been entirely invested in my life. They have adjusted to living around my schedule, my matches, and my wins or losses. It became their habit. I didn’t want to seek different opinions from my family members,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Blue Tigers were stunned by 2-1 at home by Afghanistan despite taking the lead first. Chhetri recalled it was this match when he thought of hanging his boots.

Chhetri shared, “We lost 2-1 against Afghanistan at home, a match that we should have won. We played really well and faced criticism, which was warranted. Later, I was counting how many matches were left. That qualifying round was set to conclude with the match against Qatar. A new qualifying fixture will come again for the next four years. I realised that there is nothing more I can add value to this team, and now it’s time for someone else to have the chance.”

“It’s a very personal thing that I’m sharing: if I got injured at 40 years of age, would I have the will to come back and fight and prove myself for the national team again? And if I never get the chance to retire because of an injury, can anyone forgive me, especially after playing 19 years for the country?” he explained.

“Firstly, I felt it was time to finish. Secondly, a new batch of players is coming, and they need time. And thirdly, there are many great players who did not get a good farewell. I didn’t want to be one of them. So, I pre-announced my decision, kept myself fit, played the match, and was done. But the day was strange,” he further analysed his decision.

Chhetri will be seen in action in the upcoming Indian Super League season for Bengaluru FC.