Chhetri, Choudhry: Players To Watch in Blockbuster India vs. Bangladesh AFC Asian Cup Qualifier
Sunil Chhetri: India’s Returning Hero
India will enter this match as the favourites in the latest betting odds and with their tails up, having recorded a commanding 3-0 victory over lower-ranked Maldives here in Shillong on March 19. The victory was the first for India boss Manolo Marquez and the first for the nation in over a year.
While a large portion of the media’s attention has been consumed by a high-profile arrival in the Bangladesh camp, the Blue Tigers also received a significant boost in the lead-up, with Sunil Chhetri coming out of retirement to rejoin the team for the upcoming qualifiers.
The 40-year-old Bengaluru FC attacker has been superb in the Indian Super League this season, picking up 12 goals and two assists, marking his best-ever return in the Indian top-flight, while he also bagged India’s third goal in the victory over Maldives last week.
Chhetri is India’s all-time record goal-scorer with 95 goals to his name, and Bangladesh is one of his favourite opponents to score against, having done so six times in as many games. He has only scored more goals against the Maldives and Nepal throughout his incredible career.
Hamza Choudhury: Bangladesh’s New Saviour
While Bangladesh (185th) are the lowest-ranked team in Group C of the AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, which features India (126th), Hong Kong (155th) and Singapore (160th), there is a genuine sense of optimism around the nation ahead of their upcoming match against India.
The main reason for the positive vibes is the arrival of Leicester City midfielder Hamza Choudhury, who switched allegiances to join the Bengal Tigers and is set to make his competitive debut for the team in Shillong on Tuesday night.
The 27-year-old was given a hero's welcome after touching down in his family’s hometown of Sylhet in the lead-up to this match, with thousands of fans and photographers lining up to catch a glimpse of their new national team hero.
Choudhury will bring a wealth of experience to the Bangladesh national team, having played at the highest level of the football pyramid in England for the Foxes, with whom he has racked up over 50 appearances, while also winning the Premier League and FA Cup titles.
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Topu Barman: Bengal Tigers’ Rock
Despite the optimism around Bangladesh’s chances of notching up their first-ever win over India this week, the reality is that they are still likely to be forced to play large chunks of the match on the back foot, with the hosts expected to command the lion’s share of possession.
Thus, Topu Barman could be a crucial part of Bangladesh’s chances in this game. The 30-year-old has proven himself to be a sturdy centre-back and has helped his club, the Bashundhara Kings, keep three clean sheets in nine Bangladeshi Premier League matches this season.
Barman has over 60 national team appearances under his belt and played a key role in helping the team claim a 1-1 draw against this opponent in their SAFF Championship matchup back in 2021. He also has a keen eye for goals, registering three times for his club in the ongoing season.
Liston Colaco: Blue Tigers’ Flying Winger
For several years, Liston Colaco has been talked up as being India’s next football star, and for the first time in his career, he is starting to emulate the level of play he has delivered for ISL champions Mohun Bagan Super Giants at the national team level.
The 26-year-old left-winger was arguably the best player on the pitch for Marquez’s side against the Maldives last week and scored their all-important second goal, which gave his side breathing room and allowed them to ease to victory.
Indeed, the widespread consensus is that he will face sterner competition against Bangladesh this week, but having now opened his account in national team colours, he will undoubtedly be bursting with confidence and is expected to take some of the pressure off Chhetri’s shoulders at the top-end of the pitch.
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