New Delhi, Aug. 2 -- Former Indian football tea captain Sunil Chhetri is the latest to come out in public and appeal to the TATA Group to reconsider their decision of shutting down Jamshedpur FC's first-team operations. One of the pillars of Indian football since 2017, Jamshedpur FC on July 31 put out a statement, stating they longer will participate in the Indian Super League (ISL).

In fact, the ongoing Durand Cup, in which Jamshedpur FC is currently competing, will be their last tournament for the first team. Describing the development as "a punch to the gut", Chhetri warned that Indian football cannot afford to lose one of its strongest institutional supporters.

"It takes a lot to be a stakeholder in Indian football. It has been like...