Indian football team skipper Sunil Chhetri's emotional plea seeking support from fans seems to have worked like magic as the tickets for India's second Intercontinental Cup game against Kenya has now been sold out.
Chhetri, who will play his 100th game for the country at the Mumbai Football Arena, took to social media earlier on Saturday and requested everyone, regardless of whether they are football supporters of not, to come out in numbers and rally behind the Indian team.
In his video message which went viral, Chhetri said, "Abuse us, criticise us but please come to watch the Indian national team play."
"To all of you, who have lost hope or don't have any hope in Indian football, we request you to come and watch us in the stadium. To all of you, who have lost hope or don't have any hope in Indian football, we request you to come and watch us in the stadium," he added.
The video soon got cricket captain Virat Kohli to react.
"In support of what my good friend and Indian captain Sunil Chhetri posted sometime back, I want to request everyone to go and watch Indian football play. Anyone who loves any kind of sport, go and cheer for the team in the stadiums because they are working hard, they are a talented team and I have seen these players evolve and learn over the last few seasons and get so much better at their game," Kohli said in a video message.
Besides Kohli, batting legend Sachin Tendulkar and former India captain Anil Kumble also got behind Chhetri and posted messages in support of the football team on social media.