India’s football team started their SAFF Championship title defense with a 4-0 win over Pakistan in Group A at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru. Sunil Chhetri, India’s captain, scored an early brace before adding another goal after the break for his fourth international hat-trick. This takes Chhetri’s tally to 90 goals, placing him just 10 goals away from scoring 100 international goals, behind Lionel Messi, Ali Daei and Cristiano Ronaldo on the list of most international goals. However, Chhetri revealed that he does not think about goals and records and instead focuses on giving his full effort for the national team as long as he plays.
Less than 72 hours after their victory over Lebanon, India exhibited a lightning-quick start against Pakistan. Chhetri emphasized the significance of the win against Lebanon in the context of the tight schedule for the players. The Indian team had no time for recovery between matches and was playing in harsh conditions, making their victory even more satisfying. Chhetri was thrilled to see young players like Lallianzuala Chhangte stepping up and taking responsibility.
Chhetri also elaborated on the culture of discipline in the team and how young players are imbibing it. He recognizes the impact of senior players like Sandesh Jhingan and Gurpreet Sandhu who are setting an example for the younger generation. India is currently top of Group A on goal difference after the first match of the SAFF Championship, and they will face Nepal in their next match on Saturday.
