Best Indian players from each ISL Team
The Indian Super League has served as a wonderful platform for many Indian players, both budding and established. If it was Mohammad Rafique who helped Atletico de Kolkata win the trophy in the inaugural season of the league by scoring a wonderful goal in the final, it was Jeje Lalpekhlua who stole the show in the second season as he guided his Chennaiyin team to the coveted trophy.
This year has been no different either, with plenty of local footballers stepping up and impressing both fans and pundits alike. With the I-League around the corner, these players have made positive impressions on the clubs as well, who will surely be either chasing for their signatures or renewing their contracts now.
Here is the list of Indian players who have made headlines in the league this season for all the right reasons:
#1 Atletico de Kolkata – Debjit Majumdar
It is not very often that an Indian player gets noticed by two World Cuppers, but that is exactly the feat that Debjit Majumdar has achieved this season. His form under the bars for Kolkata has been nothing short of sensational. In fact, his performances have been so good that both Florent Malouda and Thierry Henry have praised the Mohun Bagan keeper for his calmness and his shot stopping abilities.
Having featured in 13 matches so far, he has kept 2 clean sheets and made a total of 26 saves. If ATK do make it all the way, he must be at his very best in the knockouts as well.
#2 Kerala Blasters- Mehtab Hossein
The tough-as-nails defensive midfielder has been a star in the centre of the park for Kerala Blasters this season. At 35 years of age, it seems he has rediscovered his magic touch once again. Despite being one of the older players in the league, he has orchestrated much of Kerala’s forward play this season and has helped his team get back the ball with his typical no-nonsense tackling.
His stats are impressive for someone his age: he has made 30 tackles, won 5 aerial duels and made 15 interceptions, which is the highest for any player from his squad. With Kerala in pole position to enter the knock offs, he will hope to replicate his form when the stakes are high.
Honourable mention: CK Vineeth
With 5 goals and 1 assist in 6 matches, including a stunning brace against Chennaiyin FC a few weeks back, CK Vineeth has been the man in form for Kerala upfront. He has been unstoppable ever since he returned from the AFC Cup, and with 8 shots on target, he also has one of the best shot-to-goal-conversion ratio in the league. If he was there from the start, Kerala would probably have made it through to the semi-finals by now.