Sunil Chhetri urges everyone to 'pause and think' before reacting on India's World Cup loss

It has almost been a week since India suffered a depressing World Cup final defeat. India went down to Australia in the tournament finale in Ahmedabad on Sunday. It shattered their dream of lifting the trophy, for the third time, in front of home fans.

Having gone flawless throughout the tournament with 10 straight wins, India were convincingly beaten in the final, losing by six-wickets. It was Australia’s record-extending sixth World Cup crown.

Sunil Chhetri, Indian football team’s captain, reacted to the win and said it would the the cricket team members and support staff weeks and months to recover. He reminded that everyone had given it their all despite falling at the final hurdle.

“It is perhaps not fair for me to do so as I am actually on the other side. As a player, I understand what the players go through. But still, let me say this. All of us felt the pain and the disappointment,t but no one could feel it more than the eleven men who played in the final. I can tell you this the pain they must have felt and continue to feel is very different. For weeks and months, they will feel the pain. So when you say things in frustration on social media and post a tweet, just for a second pause and think,” Chhetri said RevSportz.

Chhetri, who has faced many such heartbreaks during his storied career, asked everyone to think before criticising the team.

“They played extraordinary cricket for 10 games, and as a sportsman, I can tell you things can go wrong in the 11th game. Such things happen in sports. In fact, that’s why it’s a sport. It doesn’t always go as per script. But effort, preparation, commitment- whatever you ask for, these men had given it their all. Maybe you can think about it once before writing,” Chhetri added.

Chhetri was speaking after the Indian football team lost 3-0 to Qatar in a FIFA World Cup Qualifier. Next assignment for Chhetri & Co. is the all-important AFC Asian Cup in January-February.