India defender Subhasish Bose said the team would give their all to win the crucial 2026 World Cup Qualifier against Kuwait at the Salt Lake Stadium on Thursday for captain Sunil Chhetri.

The Kuwait game will be Chhetri’s last match for India and victory will put his team on the brink of advancing to Round III from Group A.

“A crucial match for us and it’s also Sunil’s final game. We want to make it memorable for him. He is an inspiration for us. A victory will be an ideal farewell gift to our captain,” Bose said during a news conference at the Salt Lake Stadium on Monday.

India football captain Sunil Chhetri (left) and head coach Igor Stimac discuss a point before a training session at the Salt Lake Stadium on Monday. Santosh Ghosh

Bose said a full house at the Salt Lake Stadium would motivate them to beat Kuwait. “We are looking forward to playing in front of the 65,000 spectators.”

Bose was asked who would carry the burden of scoring for the national team once Chhetri left the scene. He said there were a glut of youngsters who would carry the flag foward.

“(Lallianzuala) Chhangte, Manvir (Singh), Rahim (Ali)... all have the calibre to score goals. Yes Sunil is a legend. But these young players will deliver. With time they will get into the groove,” he said.

Chhetri has scored 94 goals for India in 150 appearances and is the third-highest active scorer in world football after Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal and Argentina’s World Cup-winning captain Lionel Messi.

Bose, who was the captain of Mohun Bagan Super Giant last season, said there are players who are ready to take up the leadership mantle after Chhetri’s retirement.

“Some are already doing it for their respective clubs.”