The Goal Drought Indian Football Needs to Address

In 2019, after India lost 1-2 to Oman having led till the 82nd minute, head coach Igor Stimac said the team could not keep looking only to Sunil Chhetri for goals.

- Dhiman Sarkar

KOLKATA: Chhetri had put India ahead from a Brandon Fernandes free kick, a training-ground drill executed to perfection, but India missed opportunities to kill the contest, leading to Stimac speaking about the need for goals from other players.

Following the high of a 0-0 draw away to Qatar, India's goals that year came from central defender Adil Khan and wide forward Seiminlen Doungel, both off Fernandes's set-pieces, but it was only in 2023 that Stimac got what he wanted.

Of the 21 goals India scored that year, seven came from players not designated as forwards. Anirudh Thapa started the trend against Myanmar in the three-nation tournament and India had goals from Sandesh Jhingan, Udanta Singh, Sahal Abdul Samad and, including goals away from home against Iraq and Malaysia, three from Naorem Mahesh Singh in his first year of international football.