ISL 2017: 5 Indian players who did not get national call-ups despite impressing in Indian Super League

The ISL has been a tournament which has grabbed the eyeballs of the nation. Generally, India is a country where football is a dormant sport and is only popular in various pockets in the country. The footballers of the nation have stated numerous times that the ISL is a tournament all the players want to play and thrive in. With a galaxy of superstars in the cash-rich tournament, the Indian players live the moment and learn the tricks of the trade from the seasoned professionals.

With the I-League and the ISL running simultaneously, national team head coach Stephen Constantine has a wide pool of Indian players to pick his squad from. Though India haven’t lost a game in nearly two years, a lot has been said about what the strongest XI of the Blue Tigers is.

In this article we take a look at the players who despite putting on great performances in the ISL, have not been handed in a national team cap.

Mandar Rao Desai

The case of Mandar Rao Desai not been handed a National team cap till now is equivalent to the mystery of the Bermuda Triangle. Mandar has undoubtedly been one of the best Indian players in the ISL since its inception. His runs down the left flank are a treat to watch and the maturity with which he showcased his game has been a revelation for Indian football.

A lot has been said about Mandar not being selected for the national team. Some say he is poor while tracking back, while others state that his style of play is not suited for the national team which plays a more direct game under Stephen Constantine. All said and done, Mandar is undoubtedly one of the most technically sound and creative players present in Indian football and not having a national cap till date is only a loss for the national team.