Sunil Chhetri and Bengaluru FC eye Durand milestone

For 38-year-old Chhetri, who is in the twilight of his career, the Durand Cup is missing from his trophy cabinet. It's also the same for Bengaluru FC, who have won all major Indian competitions since coming into existence in 2013, but not the Durand Cup. BFC were the ISL 2018-19 champions, and also have six other top domestic titles to their name, and will be vying for their seventh.

"It's very, very special. It is one of the oldest tournaments which in itself is very big. As a club we have not won it," Chhetri said of Bengaluru FC who have won the I-League twice, Indian Super League once and the Federation Cup/Super Cup thrice.

"More so for me... Individually too, I've not won the Durand Cup at all. I've been fortunate to win a lot of tournaments, almost all the tournaments that one can in India and the Durand Cup is missing," Chhetri said in the build-up to the tournament.

"So for me it's an added motivation. We as a club will try our best. Last year our young boys gave a good account of themselves, we want to better that," he said of their last edition's show where a young Blues side were eliminated in sudden death by eventual champions FC Goa.

A resolute, gritty performance aided by an own goal from Hyderabad FC's Odei Onaindia took Bengaluru FC to their first-ever Durand Cup final here on Thursday. MCFC, on the other hand, ousted local heavyweights Mohammedan Sporting in the other semifinal, to set up a clash between two former ISL champions. The likes of Javier Hernandez, Roy Krishna and Chhetri up front will have their task cut out, with Des Buckingham's MCFC at their resolute best so far, especially after the inclusion of Senegalese defender Mourtada Fall.