Bengaluru, June 21 (Ians) The Indian senior men’s football team kicked off its Saff Championship title defence in style, thrashing Pakistan 4-0 in Group A match as talismanic Sunil Chhetri scored an impressive hattrick at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium, here on Wednesday.

Chhetri netted an early brace before adding another after the break for his fourth international hat-trick, thereby taking his tally to 90 goals. Substitute Udanta Singh then finished the job with the fourth goal late on to sum up a memorable night for the Blue Tigers on their return to Bengaluru after almost six years.

Kuwait beat Nepal 3-1 in the tournament opener earlier in the day. India are top of the Group A standings on goal difference after matchday 1.

This was India’s one of biggest victories against Pakistan. In the 1999 Saf Games, India defeated their rivals from across the border 5-2 with Im Vijayan scoring a hat-trick.