Sunil Chhetri on the best piece of clothing he’s ever worn

If you’re on a top-three list alongside football legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, you have every reason to be proud of what you’ve achieved in the sport. For close to two decades now, Sunil Chhetri, the captain of the Indian national football team and the third highest international goal scorer in the game, has been the face of Indian football and a name synonymous with the sport in the country. With a host of commendable performances in recent years, the skipper, just like his playing position, continues to lead from the front. 

Still going strong at 38, Chhetri, in an exclusive chat with Bazaar India, talks about carrying the mantle of being the poster boy of Indian football, making style statements on the pitch, and what wearing the Indian jersey means to him. 

Harper’s Bazaar: You’ve been the poster boy of Indian football for many years now. How do you manage to carry that mantle effortlessly?

Sunil Chhetri: One of the reasons why it probably feels this way (being effortless) is because I don’t take it too seriously. I don’t take the pressure of having to carry the mantle or being the face of Indian football or shouldering the responsibility. I give importance to what I can control—being a better player, a better person and that’s about it. It may sound clichéd, but this keeps me away from feeling unnecessarily pressured. I do realise that there are a lot of people who expect, have an opinion and think about what I am doing, but if I think about these things, I will not be able to focus or do my job. It will be a downward spiral from there. I don’t want to be in that situation.      

HB: Since Indian football has come into the spotlight in social media due to the impressive performances of the national team, how do you deal with the highs and lows? 

SC: Having played the sport for so many years, I have realised that no matter what people say—good or bad—it’s not going to help in any way on the pitch. I do respect their opinion since they spend their time, energy and money to watch us play, but fortunately or unfortunately, it doesn’t help me or the team on the pitch. We do take criticism on board, but at the end of the day, their satisfaction or dissatisfaction does not help us on the pitch. I, for one, keep away from the noise, talk, and pressure. Playing at the top level and representing the country is anyway a very hectic job, and if I add to it what people are thinking and wondering if I should satisfy them or not, I will not be able to function. 

HB: What does style and fashion mean to you? 

SC: I wear whatever suits me. I am not someone who experiments a lot. You’ll see me in shorts, track pants, and leisurewear. I do enjoy the opportunity I get to wear a suit. To answer your question, comfort is what fashion and style mean to me. 

HB: How do you make a style statement on the pitch and off it? 

SC: I don’t try to stand out, to be very honest. But I do understand that I have to lead by example on the pitch. I try to do the simple things—being on time everywhere, and being professional on and off the pitch. I do falter like every human being does, but I want to believe that I am someone who works on rectifying their mistakes and improve as a human being. I don’t try too hard. I just do the basics to the best of my capability.

HB: How do you stay in touch with fashion? 

SC: I am blessed to have a great team. As far as what I wear and how I look when I am not playing, it’s predominantly decided by a very important team member, who happens to be my wife. She is part of the team, along with my friends and family. She’s the one who handles the styling. She deserves all the credit. 

HB: Who are your favourite brands and designers? 

SC: I love sportswear. I enjoy wearing Puma. I’m not too particular about brands. They can be on any side of the spectrum. When I say spectrum, I mean country and price—if I can afford it, I’ll wear it. 

HB: The jersey is more than just a piece of clothing, how do you feel when you put on the Indian football team jersey? 

SC: I wish I could explain in words what I feel. It’s the best piece of clothing I’ve ever worn. The feeling of wearing this jersey more than 120 times for India has been an absolute privilege and honour. And I absolutely mean it. I may not be able to express it—maybe once you wear it, you will understand. It’s not what you wear, but what you feel. I feel it is an utmost privilege. It’s not about the jersey itself, it’s about the hard work that you and your family put in. It’s a blessing. I, for one, never take for granted. Till the last day that I am going to be wearing it, I will give it my all. 

HB: As far as the look and feel goes which are your football jerseys (club and country)?

SC: The Bengaluru FC jersey (his current club), in my second and third year (2017 and 2018 respectively) were the best. The national team jersey has only gotten better with time. Regardless of the sponsor, the blue jersey will always be my favourite. As far as other countries are concerned, I really like the Italian and Argentina jersey. I love the African jerseys that Puma makes—especially the Nigerian one. 

Lead and sq photo credit: chetri_sunil11