Former Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri has not been included in the 35-man probables list for the CAFA Nations Cup 2025, announced by new head coach Khalid Jamil on August 16. The tournament will be held in Tajikistan and Uzbekistan from August 29.

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) did not share an official reason for his omission and directed all queries to the head coach, who has yet to comment.

Mixed Reactions on Social Media

Chhetri’s absence from the list has sparked a strong response online. Fans expressed disappointment over the snub, with many calling it unfair given his legendary status in Indian football.

Alongside Sunil Chhetri’s absence, Brandon Fernandes is also missing from the India's probable squad.

Brandon has been directly involved in a majority of India’s goals over the past few years and has been one of the most creative midfielders in the setup. #IndianFootball

— Ashish Negi (@7negiashish) August 16, 2025

Others, however, viewed it as a necessary step towards building a new era under Jamil.

You won’t witness Sunil Chhetri at CAFA Nations Cup as he haven’t been called up by our new head coach Khalid Jamil ❌🇮🇳

Is it a good decision?? Let us know in comments!#allindiafootball #IndianFootball pic.twitter.com/k1gC2u8vYr

— All India Football (@AllIndiaFtbl) August 16, 2025

Chhetri’s Recent Career and Performance

At 41 years old, Chhetri had retired from international football in June 2024 after his farewell match against Kuwait. But he returned in March 2025 at the request of then-coach Manolo Marquez for the AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.

Since his comeback, he played four matches, scoring once in a 3-0 victory over the Maldives. However, India’s recent form has been inconsistent, with a 0-0 draw against Bangladesh, a 0-1 loss to Hong Kong, and a 0-2 defeat to Thailand in a friendly. These results have raised concerns about India’s path to the 2027 Asian Cup qualification.

Despite this, poor form is unlikely to be the reason for his exclusion. Chhetri scored 13 goals in 26 ISL appearances last season, finishing as the second-highest scorer in the league.

Speculation continues about whether he himself asked to be left out or was rested. His club, Bengaluru FC, has yet to begin pre-season training and is facing financial uncertainty, having recently suspended salaries for players and staff due to the unclear future of the Indian Super League (ISL).

India’s Fixtures in the CAFA Nations Cup 2025

India has been drawn into Group B. The team will play:

• Tajikistan on August 29

• Iran on September 1

• Afghanistan on September 4

Currently, 22 players have joined the training camp in Bengaluru, while the remaining 13 players will link up after completing their Durand Cup duties. The AIFF has urged clubs to release players to strengthen preparations for the tournament.