India and the Maldives will play a friendly match in Shillong on March 19, 2024, as preparation for their Asian Cup qualifiers. Sunil Chhetri’s return is pivotal for India, which seeks its first win under coach Manolo Marquez after a year without victories. Maldives, with limited recent action, faces a challenging matchup against a historically dominant Indian side.
India and the Maldives are set to compete in an international friendly match at Shillong’s Polo Ground on March 19, as both teams prepare for upcoming Asian Cup qualifiers. India will face Bangladesh, while the Maldives will play against the Philippines. The match is significant for India, particularly with the return of veteran striker Sunil Chhetri, who aims to strengthen the team’s offense under head coach Manolo Marquez.
India enters this friendly with a pressing need for victory, having recorded no wins in over a year. Their last triumph was against Kuwait in June 2024, and they have struggled in qualifiers since then. Under Coach Marquez, India has drawn three matches and lost one against Syria, highlighting their lack of goals. Chhetri’s involvement, whether as a starter or substitute, is expected to have a substantial impact.
The Maldives, ranked 162nd globally, has had limited competitive matches recently, playing only twice in the past 18 months, both against Bangladesh. They secured one win and one loss. Coach Ali Suzain, known for his past success with the Maldives national team, will rely on the squad’s experience along with key forward Ali Fasir, who has been a significant offensive player.
Historically, India has dominated this matchup, winning 14 of their 16 encounters, with the latest victory being a convincing 3-1 win. However, the Maldives did manage to clinch a memorable win in the 2018 SAFF Championship final, showcasing the occasional competitive nature of their rivalry.
Sunil Chhetri, who had previously retired in June 2024, has rejoined the national team ahead of the friendly to prepare for the crucial Asian Cup qualifier against Bangladesh. With an impressive record of 12 goals in 24 Indian Super League matches, Chhetri’s participation is highly anticipated, although Coach Marquez has yet to finalize his role in the lineup. Marquez insists that performance, not age, will determine the selection of players for future matches.
The probable starting line-ups for both teams include:
– India: Vishal Kaith (GK), Subhasish Bose, Sandesh Jhingan, Rahul Bheke, Naorem Roshan Singh, Apuia, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Brandon Fernandes, Irfan Yadwad, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Sunil Chhetri.
– Maldives: Hussain Shareef (GK), Hussain Sifaau, Samooh Ali, Mohamed Irufaan, Hassan Shifaz, Ibrahim Mahudhee, Hussain Nihan, Ahmed Aiham, Mohamed Naim, Hassan Naiz, Ali Fasir.
The match is scheduled to kick off at 7:00 PM IST at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Polo Ground) in Shillong. In India, viewers can watch the event live on the Star Sports network, while live streaming will be available through the JioHotstar app.
In summary, the friendly match between India and the Maldives serves as a crucial preparation for both teams ahead of the Asian Cup qualifiers. With the return of Sunil Chhetri, India aims to end a lengthy winless run, while the Maldives seeks to leverage their sporadic experiences. The historical dominance of India in past fixtures adds another layer of anticipation for this encounter.
Original Source: www.business-standard.com
