King’s Cup 2023: A litmus test to find India’s next striker after Chhetri Premium

Sunil Chhetri's 39-year-old age and goal-scoring ability has India's national team dependent on him. Robin Singh, a former No. 9, believes Ishan Pandita, Manvir Singh and Rahim Ali can provide a solution. Stimac is looking for a replacement ahead of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and the King's Cup 2023 provides an opportunity to test potential strikers.

When Sunil Chhetri, a 39-year-old, outweighs every national team forward, in terms of fitness and goal-poaching, it is an obvious problem Igor Stimac and his team would like to think ahead about.

It is not rocket science to figure out the over-dependence of the team on Chhetri for goals. The Blue Tigers rode on his winner against Vanuatu in the Intercontinental Cup and he was the Golden Boot and the Golden Ball winner in the SAFF Championships.

Chhetri is the No. 9. But for how long?

Last season, the Bengaluru FC captain initially fell off the pecking order of head coach Simon Grayson’s starting squad.

But his presence as the sole national team striker (in the starting XI) has become fait accompli, primarily because no young striker has been as good as him.

The King’s Cup 2023, India’s next international game in the September FIFA window, might just provide a silver lining here.

Chhetri has requested to be left out for personal reasons, and three forwards have been named in the squad — Manvir Singh, Rahul K.P and Rahim Ali, of which only Manvir and Rahim are traditional strikers.