The Indian players will aim to gift their skipper Sunil Chhetri a memorable 100th international match when they face Kenya in an Intercontinental Cup tie on Monday.
India sit pretty at the top of the four-team table after their facile 5-0 victory over Chinese Taipei in the opening match of the Intercontinental Cup football tournament. Kenya are second thanks to their 2-1 win over New Zealand on Saturday.
“I had a dream but never dreamt of playing 100 international matches. This is unbelievable,” Chhetri said prior to India’s practice session at the Mumbai Football Arena here on Sunday.
“Honestly, I never think much about milestones. It was only when I was having a chat with my mom the other night that she became a bit emotional. How big it was for her made me realise how big the occasion is,” he added.
Chhetri is the second Indian after former India captain Bhaichung Bhutia to achieve the feat. Bhutia, who represented the country from 1995 to 2011, played 104 international matches, scoring 40 goals.
Ahead of the match, here is everything you need to know:
Date: 4th June 2018, Monday.
Time: 8:00 PM IST.
Venue: Football Arena, Mumbai.
Live broadcast: Star Sports 2, Star Sports 2 HD. Star is the official broadcasters of the series.
Live streaming: Hotstar.
Squads:
India Squad: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Amrinder Singh, Vishal Kaith, Subhasish Bose, Pritam Kotal, Anas Edathodika, Sandesh Jhingan, Salam Ranjan Singh, Lalruatthara, Jerry Lalrinzuala, Narayan Das, Udanta Singh, Ashique Kuruniyan, Md. Rafique, Anirudh Thapa, Rowllin Borges, Halicharan Narzary, Laldanmawia Ralte, Balwant Singh, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Sunil Chhetri, Alen Deory
Kenya Squad: Patrick Matasi, Timothy Odhiambo, Byrne Omondi, Jockins Atudo, Musa Mohammed, Bernard Ochieng, Dennis Odhiambo, Erick Ouma, Michael Kibwage, Johnstone Omurwa, Bolton Omwenga, Chrispin Oduor, Miheso Clifton, Kenneth Muguna, Duncan Otieno, Patillah Omotto, Vincent Wasambo, Ovella Ochieng, Timothy Otieno, Pistone Mutamba, John Makwatta
-With IANS inputs.