Sunil Chhetri continues with national team, young Suhail Bhat gets a chance

Panaji: India coach Manolo Marquez will continue to experiment with new striking options for the national team but it’s hard to ignore veteran Sunil Chhetri.India’s captain, leader, legend was coaxed out of retirement by coach Manolo for the Asian Cup 2027 qualifier against Bangladesh in March. The most capped and highest goal scorer did not get on the scoresheet in the qualifier, but his presence on and off the field matters.Chhetri has now been included among the probables for the international friendly against Thailand (June 4) and the Asian Cup qualifier against Hong Kong (June 10).Senior officials said Chhetri, even at 40, continues to be in impressive form, and proved himself with 14 goals in this season’s ISL, where he guided Bengaluru FC to the final.Since taking charge of the national team last year in a dual club-and-country role, Manolo has tried several players upfront. He started with Kiyan Nassiri and Edmund Lalrindika, then added Farukh Choudhary, all of whom failed to make it count.However, Irfan Yadwad continues to enjoy the confidence of the Spanish coach, while the latest list includes Suhail Bhat, the 20-year-old who caught the eye with his movements and two goals for Mohun Bagan Super Giant at the Super Cup.“As part of their preparations for the Asian Cup qualifier against Hong Kong, the Blue Tigers will have a 10-day training camp in Kolkata, before they fly off to Bangkok to play a Fifa international friendly against Thailand on June 4. The team will subsequently travel to Hong Kong, for their Asian Cup qualifier,” the AIFF said in a statement on Wednesday.The 28-member probables squad includes three new faces in Suhail Bhat, FC Goa goalkeeper Hrithik Tiwari and Punjab defender Nikhil Prabhu.Bengaluru FC goalkeeper and former India captain Gurpreet Singh Sandhu continues to be left out. The keeper recently posted photos of him training in Norway with his former side Stabaek Fotball but will need to do more to make an international comeback.FC Goa winger Brison Fernandes and Mumbai City’s Akash Mishra were in the initial list of 35 players but are yet to fully recover from their injuries. Others who have been left out from the pre-list includes Mumbai defender Valpuia, Macarton Nickson, Mayakkannan (both NorthEast United), Farukh Choudhary (Chennaiyin FC) and Vibin Mohanan (Kerala Blasters).India are in group C for the final round of the AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifiers along with Bangladesh, Hong Kong and Singapore. The qualifiers are played in a home-and-away round robin format.Probables: Goalkeepers: Hrithik Tiwari, Vishal Kaith, Gurmeet Singh Chahal, Amrinder Singh; Defenders: Naorem Roshan Singh, Rahul Bheke, Konsham Chinglensana Singh, Anwar Ali, Thangjam Boris Singh, Sandesh Jhingan, Asish Rai, Subhasish Bose, Mehtab Singh, Tekcham Abhishek Singh, Nikhil Prabhu; Midfielders: Suresh Singh Wangjam, Naorem Mahesh Singh, Ayush Dev Chhetri, Udanta Singh Kumam, Lalengmawia Ralte, Liston Colaco, Ashique Kuruniyan, Brandon Fernandes; Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Irfan Yadwad, Manvir Singh, Suhail Ahmad Bhat, Lallianzuala Chhangte.