King's Cup 2023: Who will Igor Stimac turn to for goals in absence of Sunil Chhetri?

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King's Cup 2023 gets underway in Bangkok straight into semifinals on Thursday (September 7), when Indian football team takes on World No. 70 Iraq as their toughest opponent since May last year if rankings are taken into consideration. Back then, the Igor Stimac and side lost 2-0 to then-World No. 91 Jordan in a friendly in Qatar and were outplayed in all aspects of the game, quite frankly.

Facing Iraq, who are stooping lower than their usual opponents in Colombia, Russia and high-ranking sides, India will be out of their comfort zone for the first time this season as they play their first international away this year. To make the challenge stiffer, they will have to do so without their premier striker Sunil Chhetri.

India's all-time leading goalscorer has been granted time away from the field with his family as Sunil Chhetri just became a father, leaving coach Igor Stimac with the option to test his squad depth with Asian Games round the corner while everything leads to January's AFC Asian Cup.

With the array of talent that is at the disposal of the Croatian coach, it's a sweet headache for him to find a winning combination once again after the highs of the Intercontinental Cup and SAFF Championship 2023 in their own backyard this June-July.

Sunil Chhetri once again was the focal point in the team's success as he scored seven of the 13 goals while facing some quality Gulf opponents in Kuwait and Lebanon and scoring a hat-trick against Pakistan. However, it was the football that Igor Stimac and boys played during the period that won hearts aplenty with the likes of Lallinzuala Chhangte, Naorem Mahesh Singh, Sahal Abdul Samad Nikhil Poojary, Akash Mishra among others, who showed there's much more to Indian football than just the star number 9.

In fact, for the first time in donkey years, the Blue Tigers are having their own identity, style and flair, and are giving it back to their opponents with a lot of purpose, enthusiasm, and well-coordinated moves in attack. This often made the job of Chhetri a tad bit easier, as he had to be in the right place at the right time to put the ball at the back of the net.

Mind you, scoring goals is still an art, which sets Sunil Chhetri apart from the rest of the national team. The onus now falls on some of the upcoming names to make this opportunity count amid hue and cry of Indian forwards not getting enough exposure with Indian Super League clubs poaching goals from abroad. MyKhel explores all possible options that exists ahead of the big India vs Iraq clash in the semis of King's Cup 2023.

Lallinzuala Chhangte: The next-best option for goals

A five minute look at the 26-year-old forward is enough to give you the impression that Lallinzuala Chhangte draws a lot of inspiration from Cristiano Ronaldo. And if you are someone, who follows the national team closely, you must be aware that Chhangte is an absolute favourite of coach Stimac, who always is an awe of the hardwork the Mumbai City player puts on the ground.

The wide forward, who primarily likes to cut in from the right wing, has turn out to be the next best potent goal scorer for India since the Intercontinental Cup with four goals to his name in nine games. The footballer, who enjoys a telepathic connection with attack-minded fullback Nikhil Poojary on the right flank, has also picked up the knack of busting the net in big games as he scored in back-to-back finals against Lebanon and Kuwait respectively this year.

The only concern regarding the forward could be the no-goal show during the recently-concluded Durand Cup 2023, where his club Mumbai City bowed out to eventual champions Mohun Bagan in the semis. However, one can't read too much into the lack of goals from the pre-season tournament as the pacy-winger was just warming up for the season and have seen enough game time to convert them into numbers for the national colours.

Manvir Singh: Returns after injury layoff

Speaking of pace, Manvir Singh fits in the description perfectly as the Mohun Bagan forward is another of those exciting talent that India has seen in the last half a decade. A regular feature in the national squad, Manvir Singh missed the team's international success owing to a right-ankle injury.

However, there's no lack of trophies at the club level for the 27-year-old wide forward, who just won the Durand Cup against arch-rivals East Bengal following maiden ISL trophy back in March.

In all likely, Manvir, who has scored 6 goals for India in 34 games, will directly compete with Chhangte for a spot on the right wing. This also means Manvir may have to play the back-up to the Mumbai City forward given the trust latter has earned of Stimac. However, Manvir's versatility may do him a favour as he is capable of playing number 9.

What may go against such a decision is Manvir Singh's role with his club now. Coach Juan Ferrando has switched to a three centre-backs approach while using Manvir as a wingback and contest with fullback Ashish Rai for a spot in the line-up.

Manvir's instinct has been offensive in the position and was on full display during the quarterfinals against Mumbai City. The former FC Goa player didn't just score a goal in the game but also drop back efficiently to stretch the defensive line to a five-man wall at the back.

Rahul KP: Versatile forward

Almost a year since his national selection and subsequent debut, Rahul KP gets a recall from Stimac at the expense of inform Nandhakumar Sekar, who has been firing all cylinders at his new club East Bengal. Rahul, as his selection confirms, is no ball watcher either and was probably picked ahead of his senior compatriot keeping in mind the Asian Games later this month, where he features as well.

The former U-17 World Cup footballer is a proven threat both as winger and striker and is someone, who is good at breaking offside traps and run for the through balls. However, being young and inexperienced means he is yet to be a potent threat in front of the goal.

Ashique Kuruniyan: An experiment worth repeating?

The only reason Ashique Kuruniyan features in the list, and not Naorem Mahesh Singh, is because the left-footed winger was recently used as a makeshift forward when coach Stimac decided to rest Sunil Chhetri in a low-risk game against Lebanon during the Intercontinental Cup 2023.

In a formation tweak by the coach, Ashique and Chhangte were played at the front. The experiment didn't fetch the desired result as the game ended a stalemate but wasn't a failure as Ashique's pace and relentless pressing up the field made things difficult for Lebanon.

Stimac later pointed out after the game that he liked the way the forwards reacted and the pace that was on the offer in absence of Chhetri. However, the Croat didn't return to the formation again for the final or soon after at the SAFF Championship.

Rahim Ali: Sole number 9

In case, it missed readers' attention, Rahim Ali is the only proper number 9 in Stimac's selection for the King's Cup 2023 and should be the automatic choice for India vs Iraq if one is not reading into the finer details of the Indian team. Yes, the Chennaiyin FC striker has backing of the coach, who picked him ahead of Ishan Pandita, but may not start Rahim against Iraq given his goalscoring prowess hasn't been impressive with his debut international goal still in the waiting after 12 appearances.

As far his selection ahead of Pandita is concerned, it makes sense as 23-year-old Chennaiyin FC forward is also picked for the Asian Games squad. Not to forget that coach Stimac has stressed in the past that game time of players at club level will play a role in their selection.

Rahim ticked that box during the Durand Cup 2023 as he started three of the four games for Chennaiyin FC and put the ball past the goalkeeper as well. 25-year-old Pandita, on the other hand, saw chances limited at his new club Kerala Blasters with Emmanuel Justine grabbing the limelight with goals galore from the word go and cementing his place in the line-up.

Finding a place in the line-up has been a different ball game all together for Rahim as coach Stimac didn't turn to him to start the game in recent times when Sunil Chhetri was rested. Lack of goals from the bench also weakens his claim for a start further and only a tactical requirement may help his cause