'You've held the flag high': Sachin Tendulkar pays heartfelt tribute to Sunil Chhetri on retirement

India's  ‘Captain, Leader, Legend’ and one of the most iconic footballers the country has ever seen, Sunil Chhetri, played his last game for the Blue Tigers on Thursday in India's FIFA World Cup qualifer game against Kuwait.

Indian football team captain, Sunil Chhetri announced his retirement from international football last month and confirmed that the clash against Kuwait at Salt Lake stadium in Kolkata was going to be his last. As it turned out his last game for India ended in frustration as the hosts were held to a stalemate by Kuwait and damaging their hopes for qualification into the third round of FIFA World Cup qualifier.

As Sunil Chhetri exited the pitch for one final time as Indian player, the nation paid its tributes. And one such heartfelt tribute was led by the God of Cricket, Sachin Tendulkar. 

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Sachin Tendulkar's Heartfelt tribute to Sunil Chhetri 

As soon as the game between India and Kuwait ended, Sachin Tendulkar took to X to pay his tribute to Sunil Chhetri. 

In a heatfelt post, Sachin Tendulkar congratulated Chhetri on a remarkable career, and wrote, “No goal is easy to achieve. Let alone 94 international ones. You've held the flag high, Sunil Chhetri.Congratulations on a remarkable career!”. 

Also Read | Igor Stimac blames India's sloppy passing for draw against Kuwait

Frustrating end for Sunil Chhetri 

Sunil Chhetri's final game ended in frustration as India failed to win a must win affair and now have to rely on other results if they want to progress into the next round of FIFA World Cup qualifier. 

"I wish we could've got three points today. One point still keeps us in. I hope we will do a good job in Qatar. We still have a chance to qualify," said Sunil Chhetri at the end of the game. 

India will now have to rely on the results in games between Qatar vs Afghanistan and Kuwait vs Afghanistan if they want to progress into the next round. They still have a chance but they will need to upset Qatar away from home.