On the morning of 29th October 2026, The headquarters of the AIFF appeared different than usual.
The room was filled with India's most influential members of AIFF.
They all sat. There was a silence spread across the hall.
At precisely 11:00 A.M., the glass doors opened.
Arjun Malhotra the President of the All India Football Federation entered the hall with his cold walk. Beside him were Meera Banerjee, Head of Youth Development and Nishant Rao, the Technical Director with some files in their hands.
Everyone stood up and greeted him. He smiled and gestured them to be seated, but he remained standing at the head of the table, allowing others to take their seats.
Then, in a low but sharp voice, he began.
"Ladies and Gentlemen. We've failed again."
He exhaled and continued,
"For the straight third u-17 cycle, we've failed to qualify for the AFC Asian Cup. We have failed to build any future for Indian football. "
He paused for some moments and raised his voice.
"We have also failed to provide any justification to the young players who trained for years just to experience humiliation."
A few members shifted uncomfortably in their seats as Malhotra's eyes scanned their faces. Each one belonged to some powerful state association heads and AIFF executives.
"The current head coach of the U-17 national team is relieved of his duties, effective immediately."
The silence turns into murmurs.
Meera whispered to her colleague, "It was about time."
Across the table, one of the older members, Jignesh Kapoor glared disapprovingly. He was the Head of the Central India Football Association.
"Arjun, with all due respect... who is going to replace him? We don't have a name," he said.
Malhotra Raised his hands calmly.
"We do. And he's already accepted it."
Now the room was on high alert.
"Raghav Rathore." Malhotra announced.
"Raghav?" Member said," The same Raghav who played in Europe and coached under 15s in Maharashtra."
Kapoor scoffed.
"He's never coached a national side."
Arjun gave a sarcastic smile and replied.
"And the ones who haven't taken us anywhere. We're still treated like nothing."
He took a glance at the crest of AIFF. Then continued but an authoritative tone.
"So enough now, It's time for us to try someone with the vision."
Silence spread across the hall, as everyone realised the weight of each word.
Mera smiled faintly. "He had turned a slum side team into a district champion in just seven months."
Another member asked, "Didn't he turn down an offer from an I-league team last year?"
"Yes, he did. He doesn't want to coach a club." Meera replied.
She paused for a moment and continued.
"He wants to build a team which doesn't need any coaches."
A younger executive cleared his throat.
"With all due respect, Mr. President this may result in political suicide, If he fails . The media wouldn't be standing with us after that."
Arjun replied flatly. "It isn't about media now. It's about our nation and about our footballing future."
The room remained silent.
"Raghav doesn't just want to qualify for u - 17 for the world stage. He wants to lay a foundation for India's World Cup run. He told me this directly. And, I believe in him."
Kapoor stood now and gently closed his fists expressioning a kind disbelief to himself.
"You can't grant our entire AFC- 17 future in the hands of a dreamer."
Arjun replied calmly.
"No Jignesh, I am granting it to someone who still dreams because all of us in the entire room stopped that many times ago."
For some moment, no one spoke. Then quietly stood up.
I am supporting Mr. President's decision. Fully.
Nishant followed her.
"He's bold, or maybe too bold, but we need that type of attitude now. So, I support it too."
Slowly, one by one hands raised. In them some were unsure. But still, they supported it.
Two in the room still remained down. They were Mr Kapoor and his one colleague.
At 11:50 a.m., after a series of debates and discussions. Arjun Malhotra finally exhaled and looked at the clock.
He tapped the table once.
"Raghav Rathore will now officially take over India's National Under-17 Team from November 1st,2026. And his contract runs through the AFC U-17 Qualifiers."
He lowered his voice.
"I know, You all want results? So for that, let that man work for it."
No one dared to speak a word. There was true silence. Just the hums of AC echoed in the room. And with that, the meeting was adjourned.
In a quiet one-bedroom flat in Pune. Raghav's phone buzzed just once.
Raghav picked up the phone and looked at the screen for a moment. It flashed a single message from Meera Banerjee.
"Job done. You have the charge now. See you on 1st November. Time to build."
Raghav didn't smile. He sat back quietly on the rocking chair. He took a long breath while closing his eyes and then exhaled which felt like a sign of relief.
At 3 p.m., The AIFF press room was filled with reporters and cameras. Everyone's Focus was on a single name. "Raghav Rathore." As journalists barely know him.
The announcement had leaked barely an hour ago. Every social media circle of football buzzed with surprise. Most of them don't who Raghav Rathore was.
The cameras started to flash as Raghav entered the hall. Just his first presence showed his meaning and authority. He sat under the banner displaying :
"New Beginning: Raghav Rathore, The Head Coach of India's National U - 17."
He waited for camera flashes to stop and for journalists to sit.
"Good Afternoon everyone; I am here to share some important news with you all. We've begun a new chapter. Not just for the team but for the future of our nation's football."
He paused for a moment.
"Mr. Raghav Rathore, a former footballer, will be our new coach of our Indian National Under-17 side from 1st of November,2026."
Hands started to rise up instantly. A journalist from Today's Express stood up first.
"Mr. Malhotra.Mr. Raghav has never coached a national side before. Isn't this a gamble with our most crucial development stage for our youth development program?"
Arjun quietly replied.
"It might be a gamble for someone who fears about the revolution. But, If you ask about me, then I am someone who believes in results and in vision."
Just then another journalist from Sports24 stood up and interrupted.
"What about the International exposure? He's coaching district and academy youths. Will he be able to handle the pressure in international tournaments as a coach?"
Arjun gave a faint smile and stepped closer to the mic.
"Mr, I think you don't have the full knowledge about Mr. Raghav. He had played more football in Europe than the collective experiences of our players."
"And, if we talk about him as a coach. Then he doesn't just handle pressure. He built from them. And he doesn't just compete in those tournaments. He wants to change how we prepare for them."
"Didn't you talk about any foreign names? Or this was always your plan."
"We had foreign names before also. And yet, our results remained like a low-level team."
"Maybe it's only the time when we back someone who understands the Indian Football. Not just the results but also the hunger."
The room felt quiet.
At 4:30 p.m., a short pre-recorded video clip of Raghav surfaced on social media and news channels.
Which he was sitting in a simple room with a whiteboard beside him while wearing a plain navy polo T-shirt. He started with a calm and confident tone.
"Hello everyone; I am not here to repeat what has been done. I'm here to rewrite a bright future for our nation in every possible.
He looked straight into the camera.
"I believe in every young footballer and fan who has been told that India doesn't belong at the top. And, I will do everything to prove them wrong about our nation."
At night 9 p.m., in a quiet but luxurious room with dim lighting. Two elderly gentlemen in their early sixties sitting together on a royal sofa. Then, A person enters the room with two cups of tea and serves the tea to them while they were watching the clips of a press conference organised by Arjun Malhotra earlier today on a large screen.
The first man took a cup in his right hand.
"Arjun looked different today."
The other man nodded and replied.
"Yeah, It's strange to see Arjun desperately backing someone like this. He is known for his sharp, deep and stubborn attitude. "
The first man quietly sipped tea and stared at the name " Raghav Rathore " written on the screen. He murmured the name 'Raghav Rathore'.
"He seems an interesting character".
Other man took the last sip of tea and gently put the cup back on the table.
"I think Arjun and Raghav must have something significant to deliver. "
Then, the first man also put down his cup.
"Let's wait and see, whether they will deliver or not."