Sunil Chhetri: It was never about me, it will never be about me

The Indian football team is ready to take on Bangladesh in their FIFA World Cup qualifying match on Thursday, 15th October 2019 in Kolkata, West Bengal. Indian skipper Sunil Chhetri could not make it to the starting 11 against the Asian Champions, Qatar, in Doha after falling ill. However, the 35-year-old striker is expected to return to action much to the delight of Indian fans especially those coming to watch the match in Kolkata.

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Chhetri is expected to be heavily marked by the Bangladeshi defence. However, he feels that the team is not only about him and that the rest of the 10 players are equally a threat to their opponents. Chhetri has been a constant threat, being the second-highest active international goal-scorer behind Cristiano Ronaldo. The 'Blue Tigers' fought out an impressive draw against Qatar and would be looking to cruise past the neighbours with ease. 

Head-to-Head

The two sides have played just once in a FIFA World Cup qualifier match in the past, way back in 2014. The match ended with both sides scoring twice. India stands fourth on the qualifying table currently, while Bangladesh occupies the fifth slot. India has so far played two games, with one defeat against Oman and a draw against Qatar. In the recent past, India has struggled with three defeats in the last five matches and a sole victory against Thailand. Overall, the two sides have played 28 matches against each other. India has the upper hand with 15 wins, while Bangladesh has 11 wins.

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Team News 

India will miss out on Pronary Halder in tonight's match. The defensive midfielder got injured during the Super Cup, while playing for Atletico De Kolkata earlier this year. Defender Sandesh Jhingan is also out due to an ACL injury. India will be led by Sunil Chhetri in the attack, followed by a dominant Sahal Abdul Samad in the midfield. Ashique Kuruniyan and Udanta Singh will occupy the wings. Bangladesh will play through Jamal Bhuyan, who operates from the midfield. He is a significant threat if let free.

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Predictions

India are the favourites to win, largely due to the previous performance against Qatar in Doha. Bangladesh had lost the previous match with a two-goal deficit against Qatar. India will also have an upper hand with the arrival of Sunil Chhetri. The team will aim to reap maximum benefits due to the support of the home crowd in Kolkata.

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