2 weeks Ago By khas khabar
The Indian men’s national football team was expected to come out firing in its AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers third-round opener. But Tuesday night at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong was more frustrating than fireworks, as the highly-anticipated clash between Sunil Chhetri and Hamza Choudhury ended in a goalless draw. There were moments — a near miss from Farukh Choudhary, a burst from Liston Colaco, a classic leap from Chhetri — but no one could find the back of the net.
The 14,952 fans in attendance, who had braved the rain and high hopes, left wanting more. Still, the match proved something else entirely: Indian football is no longer a side conversation. Even before kickoff, fan chatter online was buzzing not just with predictions but also with promo codes, fantasy picks, and betting tips.
Platforms are seeing increased traction around Indian football matches, and the growing popularity of promotions like the shows how deeply fans are getting involved—not just emotionally but financially. India head coach Manolo Márquez didn’t hold back after the goalless result, calling it “perhaps the most difficult press conference” of his career. The Spaniard was visibly frustrated as his team failed to make the most of their opening AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifier on home soil.
Looking to inject fresh energy into the squad, Márquez made five changes from the side that beat the Maldives in a friendly just days earlier. Boris Singh Thangjam, Udanta Singh Kumam, Lalengmawia Ralte, Sandesh Jhingan, and Farukh Choudhary were all drafted into the starting XI, with Jhingan also handed the captain’s armband for the night. Despite the new faces, India struggled early.
An early scare came when goalkeeper Vishal Kaith’s misplaced clearance nearly handed Bangladesh an opener within seconds. The visitors looked sharp in the first 15 minutes, with Md Shakil Topu and Md Shariar Emon finding pockets of space and putting pressure on the Indian defense. India slowly found rhythm midway through the first half.
Liston Colaco and Udanta Singh created some width and movement, while Lalengmawia tried to control the tempo in midfield. Farukh had a clear chance to open the scoring but couldn’t beat from close range. In the second half, Colaco’s cross found Sunil Chhetri in the box, but the veteran striker couldn’t connect cleanly under pressure from Hamza Choudhury.
Despite dominating the second half, India couldn’t find the breakthrough. For Márquez, the result was not just a missed opportunity — it was a wake-up call ahead of tougher matches to come. The draw puts India on the back foot in Group C, especially with Hong Kong China and Singapore also drawing 0-0 earlier in the day.
With three teams tied and no goals between them, the pressure is mounting. India's next test comes against Hong Kong China on June 10. A win will be critical if they want to avoid turning the group into a race decided more by goal difference than outright dominance.
While the result may have disappointed, the increasing engagement around Indian football — from packed stadiums to rising digital and betting interest — is a win in itself. The Blue Tigers may have missed their roar on Tuesday, but the buzz around the game in India is growing louder than ever..
