India vs Bangladesh: Sunil Chhetri or Hamza Choudhury – Who Will Have a Greater Impact in the AFC Asian Cup Qualifier?

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India is set to face Bangladesh in an AFC Asian Cup 2027 Qualifiers match on Tuesday, March 25, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Shillong.

India secured third place in their group during the joint qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. Meanwhile, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, and Singapore all finished fourth in their respective groups. The team that tops this group will advance to the AFC Asian Cup group stages.

The last encounter between these two sides was at the 2021 SAFF Championship in the Maldives, where Chhetri found the net. Remarkably, he has scored six of India’s last seven goals against Bangladesh. Bangladesh’s most recent victory over India dates back to the 2003 SAFF Championship semi-final in Dhaka. Notably, Bangladesh has never defeated India on Indian soil.

India vs Bangladesh: Sunil Chhetri’s Influence on India

In his latest match for India, Sunil Chhetri marked his return from retirement by scoring his 95th international goal in a 3-0 victory over the Maldives. This also marked the first win for Indian head coach Manolo Marquez since taking charge.

Speaking about the return of the 40-year-old forward, Marquez stated, “Sunil is a legend in Indian football and the top-scorer of the season. We struggled to score in my first few games, but we created plenty of chances. He’s a great addition to the squad.”

Defender Sandesh Jhingan echoed similar sentiments, adding, “We always expect him to score goals...We’re happy to have him back. With his quality, he’s a threat to any team, not just Bangladesh.”

India vs Bangladesh: Hamza Choudhury’s Potential Impact

Despite Bangladesh’s historically poor record against India, they are expected to be more competitive this time, thanks in part to the addition of Hamza Choudhury. The England-born midfielder, formerly of Leicester City in the Premier League and currently with Sheffield United, brings valuable experience to the squad.

At 27, Choudhury is a former England youth international who recently switched his allegiance to Bangladesh, his mother’s homeland. His career highlights include winning the FA Cup with Leicester City in 2021 and making over 100 senior club appearances. His presence in the Bangladesh team is expected to bolster their midfield and add a layer of experience to the squad.

However, Indian coach Manolo Marquez remains unfazed by Choudhury’s inclusion. “Hamza is obviously a talented player who has played in the Premier League. His presence is great for Bangladesh and for Asian football as a whole,” Marquez commented.

Choudhury’s arrival has significantly lifted Bangladesh’s morale, as reflected in head coach Javier Cabrera’s words. Cabrera stated, “We are more confident and stronger than ever. We expect a closely contested match and hope to challenge India.”

India vs Bangladesh: Who Holds the Edge?

While both Sunil Chhetri and Hamza Choudhury are standout players, Chhetri’s extensive experience and current form are expected to have a greater impact than Choudhury’s presence in Bangladesh’s midfield.