Jeje Lalpekhlua: The bold, new face of Indian football

The striker from Mizoram, India’s new goal scoring sensation, has even Bhaichung Bhutia and Sunil Chhetri raving

One day, you’ll look to see I have gone,

The time is right for Jeje to be captain of the Indian national team, avers football icon Bhaichung Bhutia(Reuben Singh/HT Photo)

Footballer Jeje Lalpekhlua during an exclusive photo session with HT Brunch in Aizawl, Mizoram (Reuben Singh/Hindustan Times)

Striker Jeje Lalpekhlua during a practice session in Aizawl’s Rajiv Gandhi Football Stadium (Reuben Singh/Hindustan Times)

A religious man, Jeje makes sure he goes to the church every weekend (Reuben Singh/Hindustan Times)

Indian captain Sunil Chhetri with former skipper and football icon Bhaichung Bhutia (Hindustan Times)

Lionel Messi is one of Jeje’s favourite footballers. “Messi is too young to retire,” he says (Getty Images)