Sunil Chhetri marked his return to international football in style, scoring as India secured a 3-0 victory over Maldives in a friendly match on Wednesday. The win ended India’s 12-match winless streak, which had stretched since November 2023.

India took the lead in the 35th minute through Rahul Bheke, followed by a second goal from Liston Colaco in the 66th minute. Chhetri, who had retired from international football in May last year, made a stunning comeback by netting India’s third goal with a glancing header in the 77th minute, taking his tally to 95 international goals.

The 40-year-old captain showed no signs of slowing down, leading by example as India dominated their opponents. His return provided a major boost to the team ahead of upcoming international fixtures.

With this win, India will look to build momentum and regain their competitive edge in upcoming matches.