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Sunil Chhetri gearing up for ISL in earnest, says staying in bubble “isn’t easy”

November 12, 2020 02:50 pm | Updated 02:51 pm IST - New Delhi

The franchise-based ISL event starts on November 20 with a game between ATK Mohun Bagan and Kerala Blasters.

Football captain Sunil Chhetri talks to his fans about his bio-bubble stay ahead of the start of Indian Super League. Twitter/@chetrisunil11

Staying inside a bio-bubble “isn’t easy” but Indian football captain Sunil Chhetri, nevertheless, is bracing up for the upcoming Indian Super League in earnest, doing all it takes for a successful campaign with his franchise Bengaluru FC.

From doing double training sessions and reading books, to watching renowned broadcaster and historian Sir David Attenborough’s A Life On Our Planet , the 36-year-old has been one busy man through the last three weeks of the team’s quarantine in Goa.

“This is our third week inside the bio-bubble and I must confess it isn’t easy but, of course, needed,” Chhetri said in a video he posted on his Twitter handle.

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“We are doing double time session and we are trying our best as a team to be as fit as possible before the tournament starts.”

Bengaluru FC’s Sunil Chhetri in action during an ISL game in Bengaluru. File

The franchise-based event starts in the coastal state on November 20 with a game between ATK Mohun Bagan and Kerala Blasters.

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The seventh edition of the tournament will be held in three venues of Goa and not across the country owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s just 10 days left and I am pretty sure all of you are waiting for the ISL as I am and the whole team is.

 

“Among all this, I am trying my best to find some time for myself I just finished reading a lovely book — The Body by Bill Bryson — and I highly recommend this,” the ace striker said holding the book.

“Also me and wife we just finished Sir David Attenborough’s ‘ A Life On Our Planet’ and it’s outstanding. We spend so much time on social media and watching television, I recommend you guys to spend one and half hours watching Sir David Attenborough’s career.

“You watch, I won’t spill the beans, it’s an amazing series, especially the young ones. Please indulge in it and I am pretty sure you will find your time is worth. And I must confess or admit that neither Bill Bryson nor Sir David has paid me anything to do this.”

Chhetri, currently the world’s second highest goal-scorer among active footballers — only Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo is ahead of him — will spearhead former champions Bengaluru FC’s challenge in the upcoming edition of the ISL.

Bengaluru FC, known for a professional setup since its arrival on the big stage not too long ago, won the tournament in 2018.

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