India will face the Maldives in a friendly match on March 19, 2023, at Shillong’s Polo Ground. Both teams are preparing for their Asian Cup qualifiers, with India particularly focused on breaking a year-long winless streak, aided by the return of Sunil Chhetri. Maldives comes in with limited recent play, facing challenges in their competitive form. The match will be broadcast on the Star Sports network and streamed on JioHotstar.
India and Maldives will compete in an international friendly match at Shillong’s Polo Ground on March 19, 2023. This contest serves as preparation for both teams ahead of their respective Asian Cup qualifiers. While Maldives prepares for a match against the Philippines, India strives for victory in its upcoming encounter against Bangladesh.
The return of Sunil Chhetri, who exited international retirement to enhance India’s offensive capabilities, is a significant development for the match. With India still in search of their first victory under coach Manolo Marquez, Chhetri’s presence might be crucial as they aim to overcome their recent poor form.
India has not won a match in over a year, with their last victory occurring in June 2024 against Kuwait. They have experienced a series of draws and one loss since then, particularly struggling to find the net, making Chhetri’s return an essential boost. Coach Marquez has confirmed that Chhetri will partake in the match, either starting or coming off the bench.
Maldives, ranked 162nd globally, has played only two matches over the past 18 months, facing Bangladesh in both, with one victory and one defeat. This limited competitive exposure may pose a challenge as they prepare for their own qualifiers. Coach Ali Suzain, who previously led Maldives to triumph in the 2018 SAFF Championship, hopes to rely on his squad’s experience for a strong performance.
Historically, India holds a commanding lead in head-to-head encounters, having won 14 out of 16 matches against Maldives. The last meeting saw India secure a 3-1 victory, although Maldives did claim a memorable win in the 2018 SAFF Championship final, highlighting a rare success against India.
Chhetri’s unexpected return to the national team comes after retiring in mid-2024. His participation in the upcoming friendly match is anticipated, given his strong performance of 12 goals in 24 Indian Super League matches. Coach Marquez insists on prioritizing players’ current form for match selections to ensure victories.
Probable Starting XI:
India: Vishal Kaith (GK), Subhasish Bose, Sandesh Jhingan, Rahul Bheke, Naorem Roshan Singh, Apuia, Suresh Singh Wangjam, Brandon Fernandes, Irfan Yadwad, Lallianzuala Chhangte, Sunil Chhetri.
Maldives: Hussain Shareef (GK), Hussain Sifaau, Samooh Ali, Mohamed Irufaan, Hassan Shifaz, Ibrahim Mahudhee, Hussain Nihan, Ahmed Aiham, Mohamed Naim, Hassan Naiz, Ali Fasir.
Match Details:
– Date: March 19, 2023
– Time: 7:00 PM IST
– Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (Polo Ground), Shillong
Live Telecast: The match will be broadcast on the Star Sports network in India.
Live Streaming: Available on the JioHotstar app.
The friendly match between India and Maldives offers both teams a vital opportunity to prepare for their forthcoming Asian Cup qualifiers. With the return of Sunil Chhetri, India hopes to end a long winless streak, while Maldives seeks to leverage its limited experience in recent matches. This encounter not only showcases the historical rivalry but also sets the stage for both squads to recover momentum ahead of crucial qualifiers.
Original Source: www.business-standard.com
