IND vs KUW FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Salt Lake felicitates legendary Sunil Chhetri after draw against Kuwait

He might be finding it tough to juggle these gifts but the people are felicitating him with loads of gifts. He has been gifted medals, momentos. The Indian army felicitates him too. 

The Salt Lake is paying its tribute to the legend. The fans are going nowhere. Chhetri is getting felicitated. He walks out to the field as the army band welcomes him.

Sunil Chhetri is taking a lap of honour around the Salt Lake. He is emotional, folding his hands at the crowd, thanking them for everything. He now heads on the line to go back to the dressing room. He has broken down and cannot hold his tears and no Indian football fan can indeed. What a career, what a legend. 

And here's the final whistlle. The game ends in a goalless draw and Sunil Chhetri's career for India is over now

India came close of scoring with a chance there but it is still 0-0 as we head into the stoppage time of seven minutes

We are a few minutes away from the completion of regulation time. India have the possession but they are in their own half defending. 

The last 10 minutes in this game are on. It's still 0-0

Two corners for India in quick time but the final touch has been eluding. Brandon sends the ball in towards Chhetri but it finds Beke, who hits a head but is collected by the goalkeeper

Right at the start of this half, the goalkeepers had big work to do. Kuwait attack first with Daham sending the ball into the far post where Al-Harbi tries to find the nets with a narrow angle on the right side but Gurpreet does well to save this. The Indians then had a chance, Brandon sent a good ball to Rahim, who makes a good run and was one-on-one with the goalkeeper but it has been saved.

India make two substitutions. They bring Rahim Ali and Brandon from the bench in place of Sahal and Thapa. India to attack on the left now

The whistle blows for the half time and this game is poised at 0-0. This was a mixed one for both the teams. Kuwait began pressing well as compared to India. The Blue Tigers gathered themselves to then attack. They got opportunities with Poojary, Sahal, Thapa and Anwar doing well. 

Match stats till half-time:

India shots - 8

On target - 1

Possession: 48%

Kuwait shots - 5

On target: 1

Possession: 52%

Four minutes extra have been awarded for the first half. The teams are pressing alternatively and trying to get the ball into the nets

India are keeping the pressure on Kuwait. Poojary gives a cross to Sahal and then some light toes from the players. The move breaks down but the pressure is on from India

The first 25 minutes of the game are done and both teams have got good chances but have not been able to convert them. Till the first 25 minutes, both teams have produced three shots, out of which one each was on target. Kuwait have enjoyed a 59% possession, India little behind on 41%

In the early exchanges, both the teams are looking to make the most of the possessions that they are getting. India are now getting chances but the goal is eluding the hosts.

India are pressing hard now. They got a corner, Anirudh Thapa sent the ball in the box and Anwar Ali made space for a header but it was a little above the post. Still no goal

Kuwait had a chance to silence the Salt Lake crowd. Mohammad Daham got a good ball near the Indian box and had only the goalkeeper to clear after dodging the defender. But his kick met Gurpreet's foot and India survived.

A minute of silence for the passing away of Amit Kamat and now the match is on. Chhetri's final dance is on. The crowd roars to give the players a good boost. India attacking from the left to the right. India are on the 4-2-3-1 formation for this game

We are moments away from the kick-off and its time for the anthems

Yes, there is a chance for India to reach into the dream FIFA World Cup but it is very far. If India beat Kuwait like they did last year, they have all the chances to make it to the third round of the AFC Qualifiers, from where there is a direct entry into the FIFA World Cup 2026.

18 teams will reach in round 3 and six teams will have a chance for a direct entry into the FIFA WC 2026. 2 more teams will qualify with a potential place for another Asian team available. Check how India can qualify here

Crotia and Real Madrid icon Luka Modric paid his tribute to Chhetri. "Congratulations on your career. You are a legend of this game," Modric said.

Indian star Sunil Chhetri opened up about his last game for the country in a press conference. "I'm trying really hard not to think about this game like it's my last," he said. Chhetri says this game is not about his farewell but it is about India and Kuwait and a win the Blue Tigers need.

"It's not about me and my last game, it's just about us and Kuwait. We really need to win this game, and once we do, it gives us a great chance to go to the third round, which we have never done before," he added.

Jay Gupta, the rising 22-year-old defender from Pune, is included in the starting eleven. Gupta plays as a left-back and represents FC Goa in the Indian Super League.

India make five changes to their previous playing eleven with the star attacking playmaker Sahal Abdul Samad and young centre-back Anwar Ali returning from their injuries.

India's star striker Manvir Singh is surprisingly left out on the bench as Sunil Chhetri starts in the no.9 role in his final international game.

Manvir Singh was the lone goalscorer during India's win against Kuwait in the away fixture in November last year but Liston Colaco and Larinzuala Chhangte start with Chhetri in front three for the Blue Tigers today.

Sunil Chhetri starts in the attack as Igor Stimac fields the strongest possible playing eleven against Kuwait.

India Starting XI: Gurpreet Singh Sandhi (GK), Rahul Bheke, Anwar Ali, Nikhil Pujary, Jay Gupta, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Anirudh Thapa, Sahal Abdul Samad, Liston Colaco, Lalrinzuala Chhangte, Sunil Chhetri.

Kuwait Starting XI: Sulaiman Abdulghafoor (GK), Rashed Aldousari, Khaled Ibrahim, Hasan Alanezi, Meshari Alenezi, Redha Abu-Jabarah, Eid Al-Rashidi, Athbi Saleh, Faisal Al-Harbi, Yousef Al-Sulaiman, Mohammad Abdulah.

It's the final game for legendary Sunil Chhetri in the Indian colours. The Indian icon will walk into the sunset, representing the Blue Tigers more than 150 times with 94 goals to his name for the country. But the game holds more significance than this. India will be looking to ensure themselves a place in the third round of the Qualifiers to have a shot at a dream entry into the FIFA World Cup. Stay tuned as we head into this game in Kolkata.