A 22-member squad left for Tehran this morning for their away match against the host, Iran in 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifier. Indian National Team's Captain, Sunil Chhetri, though had to miss the flight owing to a groin injury he picked up during the ongoing Hero I-League.
Speaking on the exclusion of India's most prolific scorer, head coach, Stephen Constantine said, "We had to take some bold decisions and we have to travel to Tehran without our influential Captain Sunil Chhetri."
"The injury is such that it requires him to take necessary care and that requires him to stay back in India and get treated."
The team will greatly miss the charismatic striker who has been the main stay of Indian attack and played an important role in their SAFF Cup triumph.
Other players from the list of 28 probables who couldn't make the cut were TP Rehneesh, Rino Anto, Allwyn George, Malsawmzuala and Md. Rafique. On the other hand, Udanta Singh and Vineet Rai earned their first International call.
"There may be one or two additions to the squad for the Turkmenistan match, but at the moment we are concentrating on our next match against Iran.
Squad that travelled to Tehran:
GOAL KEEPERS: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Subrata Paul, Karanjit Singh
DEFENDERS: Aiborlang Khongjee, Augustine Fernandes, Arnab Mondal, Pritam Kotal, Narayan Das, Sandesh Jhingan, Lalchhuanmawia
MIDFIELDERS: Pronay Halder, Bikash Jairu, Cavin Lobo, Rowlin Borges, Francis Fernandes, Harmanjot Singh Khabra, Udanta Singh, Vineet Rai, Seityasen Singh
FORWARDS: Jeje Lalpekhlua, Sumit Passi, Halicharan Narzary
HEAD COACH: Stephen Constantine
Indian team will play their penultimate match of 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifier on 24th against Iran at the historic Azadi Stadium.
