Abhijit Sarkar: India's New No.10
What's the story?
Despite the abundance of players from Manipur, it is a forward from West Bengal who is now seen as India's most skillful player.
Football Superstars like Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, Neymar Jr., and many more have all donned the prestigious No.10 in the past and present, and it has become a norm of the best performers of the team to wear the No.10.
With the FIFA U-17 World Cup, knocking at the door, football fans around the country would be looking up to India's Abhijit Sarkar as he has been handed the No.10 Jersey carrying a billion dreams on his shoulders.
In case you didn't know
Abhijit Sarkar hails from Hemanta Basu Colony in Bandel, Kolkata. His father Harena Sarkar drives a cycle-van, and mother Aloka Sarkar makes bidis. He is a fan of India Super League side ATK and is a follower of the Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Abhijit Sarkar would be the main play maker for India in the U-17 World Cup 2017.
The heart of the matter
The No. 10 Jersey has been handed out to him because of impressive performances in the exposure tours, India traveled across the last two years. With a goal against an Italian youth team and six goals against Botswana, Abhijit Sarkar has rightfully earned the prestigious Jersey number. He earlier donned the No.12 and No.17 kits.
Coach De Matos has been quoted as saying that India would start the tournament like 'lions' and Abhijit Sarkar has a big role to play.
Being one of the three players hailing from West Bengal, the football hotbed of India would be looking upto Abhijit Sarkar with lots of expectations.
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Author's Take
With the prestigious No.10 being awarded to Abhijit Sarkar, it's not only a matter of pride for him and also a matter of responsibility.
If the boy from the Suburban Kolkata has a wonderful tournament, he can be the man Indian Football needed in the last few years as a creative attacking midfielder, who can also play as a forward.
Fans travelling from Kolkata and around the country have a big role to play in India's U-17 Campaign and they would be hunting for the No.10 in the Team to get some magical glimpses on the pitch, hoping and expecting a charismatic performance from Abhijit Sarkar.
The town of Bandel is a place where people dream of big things and Abhijit Sarkar is that dream waiting to reach the sky which is just the start of possibly an illustrous career.