Sunil Chhetri praises Khalid Jamil after India hold Panama 1-1 in Bengaluru
Former India captain Sunil Chhetri lauded coach Khalid Jamil and the national side after India drew 1-1 with Panama at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium in Bengaluru in the opening fixture of the FIFA international window on 25 September 2026. Chhetri attended the match and later posted on Instagram to congratulate the team.
The match in Bengaluru paired hosts India with two-time World Cup participants Panama, and the city has been a familiar venue for the Blue Tigers since their 2023 SAFF Championship run. In that 2023 campaign India recorded wins over Pakistan, Nepal, Lebanon and Kuwait en route to lifting the trophy in Bengaluru. The outing on 25 September was presented as the marquee fixture of the international window and drew notable attention locally.
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu wore the captain’s armband and led India from the back as the hosts pressed in the opening stages and dominated much of the first half. Bengaluru FC player Ryan Williams broke the deadlock for India in a familiar setting, and New York Red Bulls defender Omar Valencia produced a stunning strike to level for Panama. India pushed to regain the lead late on, with Edmund and Manvir coming agonisingly close to scoring.
The crowd included several dignitaries, notably the Chief Minister of Karnataka, DK Shivakumar, and among the spectators was Padma Shri Sunil Chhetri, who was pictured cheering for the Blue Tigers. Chhetri’s international record was noted in coverage: he has scored 95 international goals for India in 157 appearances. He was visibly supporting the side from the stands throughout the fixture.
Chhetri commented on his changing role in public remarks reported via the Times of India, saying: "I have made peace because now at 42, I know there isn’t anything much that I could have given to the team. Till the time I could, I gave everything, but now I know that I couldn’t have, so I’m pretty happy. I am fortunate to have played for the country for so many years, so many games. When I played, I tried my best. My time is up. I’m a fan now," via TOI. He has since shifted to supporting the national side as a spectator while continuing to engage with the team.
Panama arrived in Bengaluru off the back of a World Cup meeting with England under Thomas Tuchel, where the Central Americans held the English side to a goalless first half. Coverage noted Panama had controlled matches against Ghana and Croatia during that period and described scoring against them as a mammoth task. The article also stated Panama were ranked 94 spots above India in the FIFA rankings and that they had failed to clinch a point or score a goal in North America prior to this fixture.
He wrote on Instagram: "Immensely proud of the boys tonight. Watched you from the stands. Well done, Khalid bhai and the staff. There’s one big one coming up next. Rest well, and only the best of everything for this brunch."
