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New Delhi: India captain Sunil Chhetri has rejoined the national men’s football team in Bengaluru as preparations intensify for the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers against Singapore next month. Chhetri was joined by his Bengaluru FC teammates Rahul Bheke and Roshan Singh Naorem, bringing the total number of players in camp to 28. Head coach Khalid Jamil had initially named 30 probables, but early days of the camp were disrupted due to club-versus-country conflicts.
The camp, which began on September 20, initially saw only 18 players report, with 14 including Chhetri held back by clubs such as Bengaluru FC, East Bengal, and Punjab FC, which released players only toward the end of the month. “Sunil Chhetri, Rahul Bheke, and Roshan Singh Naorem have joined the national training camp today,” confirmed the AIFF. Their arrival leaves Jamil just a few days to work with a near-complete squad before India travel to Singapore for the October 9 away fixture, followed by the October 14 home leg.
The staggered arrivals had left Jamil short-handed, particularly in defence, prompting him earlier to urge clubs and the AIFF to establish a “constructive dialogue” to balance domestic and national commitments. Under FIFA regulations, clubs are not required to release players before the official international window (October 6–14), though the coach had hoped for more preparation time given the significance of these qualifiers.
Some key players from Mohun Bagan Super Giant and FC Goa were initially excluded due to AFC Champions League Two commitments. However, Mohun Bagan SG later withdrew from their clash against Sepahan SC in Iran after six foreign players declined to travel following government advisories. With most of his core group finally together, Jamil can now focus on readying India for a crucial step toward Asian Cup qualification.
