Kolkata: After India fell to Oman 1-2 in 2019, having led until the 82nd minute, head coach Igor Stimac stated that the squad could not continue to rely on Sunil Chhetri for goals. Chhetri had given India the lead with a perfectly executed training ground drill from a Brandon Fernandes free kick, but India failed to capitalize on chances to put the game away, which prompted Stimac to discuss the necessity for goals from other players.

After the euphoria of a goalless tie against Qatar, India's goals that year came from central defender Adil Khan and wide forward Seiminlen Doungel, both of Fernandes's set pieces. However, it wasn't until 2023 that Stimac received what he had requested.

Seven of the 21 goals India scored that year were scored by players who were not listed as forwards. Anirudh Thapa initiated the trend against Myanmar during the three-nation tournament, and India scored goals through Sandesh Jhingan, Udanta Singh, Sahal Abdul Samad, and three from Naorem Mahesh Singh in his first year of international football, including ones away from home against Iraq and Malaysia.

It's not surprising that 2023 was India’s greatest year this century, given that Stimac's squad won 10 of their 15 games, including two against higher-ranked teams (Kyrgyzstan and Lebanon). India achieved a rare away victory in a World Cup qualifier, broke into the top 100, and won three competitions. Between 2015 and the present, it was the sole occasion that they had recorded double digits in the victory column.

India also won a competitive match the last time. One reason for this is the inability to score goals from players in various positions. This is also the reason why, according to data from the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the number of goals scored each game has decreased from 1.64 during 2015–2019 to 0.75 at present. According to AIFF statistics, the average number of goals allowed per game has remained above 1 from 2015 until the present.

In terms of scoring, Chhetri has stood out head and shoulders above his companions. Out of the 138 goals India has scored since 2015, he has scored 49. Jeje Lalpekhlua, a fellow striker who was formidable and robust, accompanied Chhetri between 2015 and 2019. The two worked together beautifully to score in the 1-0 victory over Kyrgyzstan in 2017. Before his career was derailed by injury, Lalpekhlua scored in the 4-1 victory against Thailand in the 2019 Asian Cup.

However, just as importantly, 41 of the 138 goals—29.7%—have been scored by players who are not listed as forwards. Other than Jhingan, several of the defenders who scored for India were Narender Gahlot, Nikhil Poojary, Narayan Das, Fulganco Cardozo, Rahul Bheke, and Nishu Kumar. Samad, Doungel, Udanta, and Mahesh have all moved up from the midfield to accomplish that, as have Jackichand Singh, Suresh Wangjam, Rowlin Borges, Mohammed Rafique, and Halicharan Narzary. When Ashique Kuruniyan was employed as a wide player, he also did it.

After 2023, India's goals dried up even after Chhetri retired and came back. India has only scored in one of its four games this year. Rahul Bheke is the only non-forward player to have scored in 15 games since the beginning of 2024. The defender has scored against the Maldives in March and Malaysia in 2024.

At a press conference in New Delhi last Friday, AIFF president Kalyan Chaubey addressed the issue of strikers failing to score. According to him, India has failed to develop a quality striker during the last ten years. According to the former goalkeeper, a player who is accustomed to a different position at his club will have little opportunity to train and will find it challenging to play as a striker for India.

This highlights the importance of scoring from players in other positions on the field. When that occurs, teams perform well. An important factor in Mohun Bagan Super Giant's accomplishment of the 2024-25 Indian Super League (ISL) shield and cup double was the fact that defenders Subhasish Bose, Tom Aldred, and Alberto Rodriguez scored 13 goals, or one-fourth of the club's total of 52. Last season in the ISL, Bagan netted 23 goals from set-piece scenarios.

Choubey has emphasized the importance of discussing ways to extend Indian strikers' playing time. Isn't it time to discuss how to improve set plays and understand why India's midfielders and defenders lack front-third precision?

Read Also: Moving Moments as Angelo Mathews Takes the Field for His Farewell Test Against Bangladesh

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!

HOW DID YOU LIKE THIS ARTICLE? CHOOSE YOUR EMOTICON!