 "Legendary Indian footballer Sunil Chhetri. Image: Reuters")
Former India captain Sunil Chhetri has been excluded from the 35-man probables list for the CAFA Nations Cup 2025 , as announced by new head coach Khalid Jamil on August 16, 2025.
The tournament is set to take place in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, starting August 29. No official reason was provided by the All India Football Federation (AIFF) for Chhetri’s omission, and AIFF officials have directed queries to the head coach, who was unavailable for comment.
Social media reacts on Chettri’s exclusion
Given the legendary stature he holds in Indian football, Sunil Chhetri being snubbed from the probables list has sparked varied reactions on social media. Some users are immensely disappointed with the new coach for not mentioning him in the list, whereas some welcomed the decision, calling it a start of a new era.
Chhetri, aged 41, had retired from international football in June 2024 after a match against Kuwait but returned in March 2025 at the request of former coach Manolo Marquez for the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers. He played four matches since his comeback, scoring once in a 3-0 win over the Maldives. India’s recent performances, including a 0-0 draw against Bangladesh, a 0-1 loss to Hong Kong, and a 0-2 defeat to Thailand in a friendly, have put their 2027 Asian Cup qualification in jeopardy.
It’s unlikely his exclusion was due to poor form, as he scored 13 goals in 26 ISL appearances last season, and finished the season as league’s second highest goal-scorer. Speculation surrounds whether Chhetri requested to be left out or was rested, as his club, Bengaluru FC, has not yet started pre-season training and recently suspended salaries for first-team players and staff due to uncertainties about the Indian Super League’s future.
India’s schedule for the CAFA Nations Cup 2025
India are placed in Group B of the CAFA Nations Cup, and will face Tajikistan on August 29, Iran on September 1, and Afghanistan on September 4. The team has begun training in Bengaluru with 22 players, with the remaining 13 expected to join after their Durand Cup commitments. The AIFF has urged clubs to release players for this tournament.