‘He is captain fantastic, he is Sunil Chhetri!’
The commentator screamed at the top of his lungs. Still, the broadcasting audio got lost in the cacophony of roaring the Bengaluru crowd, making him inaudible. As he paused to regain his breath, Sunil Chhetri went in front of the Indian fans that turned up to see the Blue Tigers play against the Kyrgyz Republic. Giving back to the fans for being the twelfth man throughout the game, Sunil ended his pumped celebration, joining his hands with respect for the passionate crowd.
It all started with an interception near India’s box, allowing Sunil to experience a hint of space. To me, this goal perfectly summed up Sunil Chhetri’s National Team career. There have always been obstacles, and he’s managed to get past each one of them, just like he dribbled past Kyrgyz defenders. Sunil Chhetri has always been a collaborator and he collaborated with Jeje Lalpekhlua towards his right to create space for himself. As Sunil thumped the ball off Jeje’s ball to score, all his aim and passion in front of goal reminisced.
“One Nation One Dream”, a banner said. And to all of those who celebrated Indian football and still do, Sunil Chhetri has been their oneironaut for more than 15 years. Continuing to be the linchpin of Indian football, Sunil Chhetri has not only made a cricket-crazy population take notice of the Indian National Team, but has made them fall in love with the squad.
In a career that started with Mohun Bagan in 2002, Sunil has been able to draw attention from all over the world. Clubs from the USA to England to Portugal were once attracted to the little man. The list consists of clubs like Queens Park Rangers and Leeds United, two of English football’s well-known clubs. QPR reportedly locked a 3-year deal with Sunil Chhetri, making the moment a benchmark for Indian football. But due to FA’s regulations that make the process of acquiring permits for players from lower-ranked countries a hideous process, Sunil Chhetri was denied an opportunity that would mean a huge leap not just for India, but for the whole sub-continent. As a result, Sunil never made his journey to England.
Referring to the work-permit rejection, Sunil later said, “It’s not the end of the world. I will still continue to work hard for my country and my club Dempo, who have been very supportive.” The statement defines what Sunil’s career has been all about – hard work and humility. Outside of the English interest, multiple offers from the very top-level kept coming in, advocating the quality that he possessed at his peak.
Impressing Sporting Kansas City with 14 goals in seven friendlies, the 5’7 man became only the third Indian footballer to sign a contract and play outside of South Asia. Although his stint at MLS was a short one, Sunil kept the international attention coming, and ultimately, Sporting CP acquired the Indian Captain for their B-team. Despite making only three-appearances for the Lisbon-based side in a short spell, Sunil came back and showed the kind of goal-hungry beast he was, bagging regular goals with various domestic Indian sides.
In addition to his great club resume, Sunil Chhetri stands as Asia’s highest active goal-scorer with 72 international goals for India. For the world, he stands as the second-highest active goal-scorer for a national side, topped only by Cristiano Ronaldo.
All 72 goals that Sunil has scored donning the Indian jersey have been extraordinary, one way or the other. However, goals that have led the Indian team to glory remain noteworthy. From a finale hat-trick against Tajikistan in the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup that sent India to their first Asian Cup in 24 years to seven goals in 2011 SAFF Championship triumph, Sunil Chhetri has become one generation-defining goal-scorer for Indian football. The boy from Secunderabad has always been a captain for valid means and, even at 36 years of age, shows no signs of slowing anytime soon.
However, his lauded career is more stately than all that we usually talk about. Born to Kharga Chhetri, once a regular at Indian Army’s Football Team and Sushila Chhetri, a part of Nepal Women’s National Team around the 80’s, Sunil has always been that humble, hard-working kid who loves his nation and football to death.
Sunil Chhetri’s existence in Indian football remains extraordinary; he brings more than just goals and glories to Indian football. Sunil Chhetri remains a hero to every kid, from the hills of North-east to the beaches of the south-west, that dreams to play for the Indian National Football Team and stand-out for football, a sport that still struggles to keep its position in front of cricket in India.
Sunil has often been a synonym of hope, a hope that sparks when you think there’s no way to go. Indian football is finally on its way to winning people’s hearts, as the sleeping giants of world football start the process of waking themselves up. The nation finally has seen a hope, and at the center of it all, lies the captain courageous, Sunil Chhetri.
‘Cause Sunil Chhetri is a hero, and heroes give you hope.