After a disappointing start to its AFC Asian Cup qualification campaign, India is looking to reset and regain momentum under new coach Manolo Marquez. The team’s goalless draw at home against lower-ranked Bangladesh in March has triggered introspection and a renewed sense of purpose ahead of the next round of qualifiers.
The match, held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong, marked the first time since 1999 that India failed to score against Bangladesh in a competitive fixture. For captain Sunil Chhetri, who came out of international retirement for this campaign, the result was a wake-up call.
“The initial feeling after the Bangladesh game was that we let ourselves down, let the country down,” Chhetri told the AIFF website. “After I saw the replays, I thought we, as a team, could have done so much more. It was a huge opportunity to take the lead in the table, playing Bangladesh at home. We should have done so many things better.”
India, the top seed in its qualifying group, was expected to secure all three points against a side ranked significantly lower. Instead, the Blue Tigers settled for just one, leaving their qualification hopes hanging in the balance early in the campaign.
“Ending up with just a point, I think we players have no one else but ourselves to blame. We didn’t turn up the way we should have,” Chhetri admitted. “And that is the reason why we drew the game. We’ve talked about it, we’ve seen the videos, and we can’t wait to rectify it.”
India now turns its focus to Hong Kong, their next opponent in the qualifiers. Before that, they will face Thailand in a warm-up match on June 4 — a critical opportunity for the team to regroup and sharpen their tactics.
For Chhetri, this qualification campaign is about more than just results; it’s about building a legacy. “We should qualify for every Asian Cup, and it’s mandatory. But I don’t want to put pressure on the boys and the team. Let’s take one game at a time. Hong Kong, of course, is going to be very crucial.”
With eyes set on making history by qualifying for a third consecutive Asian Cup, India’s path forward now depends on urgency, focus, and execution — qualities they’ll need to rediscover fast.
