Sunil Chhetri, India's most impactful modern-day football star, wasn't wearing the captain's armband as the team walked out for its biggest match in years, goalkeeper Gurpreet Singh Sandhu being named skipper instead.

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Yet, it didn't stop Chhetri from leading from the front, the star striker scoring a brace to open India's campaign at the AFC Asian Cup with a 4-1 thrashing of Thailand in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

Returning to the Asian Cup stage after an eight-year wait and without the taste of a victory in the tournament in 55 years, the 97th-ranked India served up a delightful start to the 2019 campaign against the world No. 118 Thailand.

Midfielder Anirudha Thapa and substitute Jeje Lalpekhlua also found the net as India put themselves in great position to qualify for the knockouts of the tournament for the first time since 1964.

COUPLE OF FIRSTS

  • This is India’s first victory in the AFC Asian Cup since 1964  
  • This is the first time India have beaten Thailand in 33 years, their last win coming in 1986

N ZONE

67 Goals Sunil Chhetri has scored for India, the second most by any active international player after Cristiano Ronaldo (85)