2017's Indian football calendar begins with the I-league which is scheduled to kick off this upcoming Saturday. After the Indian Super League brought 2016 to a close, it's the I-league which will draw the curtains on this new year.
With that in mind, we look ahead to the strikers most likely to do well in this upcoming I-league season, and it includes two players from defending champions Bengaluru FC who are gunning for a third crown in four years.
#1 Sunil Chettri (Bengaluru FC)
India's top all-time goalscorer for the national side considers 2016 to be his finest year in his long career. Chettri has said that the i-league success last season, coupled with Bengaluru's run to the AFC Cup final and his ISL side Mumbai City's semifinals run, along with the national side's triumph in the SAFF Cup contributed to that.
Chettri scored twice in last year's I-league campaign for Bengaluru and netted twice more in the AFC Cup run and his goals and assists also helped Mumbai City get into the playoffs for the first time in the ISL.
Despite those stats, Chettri was guilty of missing some easy chances for both Mumbai City in the ISL and Bengaluru in the AFC Cup final, something that he will be looking to put right this year, beginning with Bengaluru's campaign to defend their I-league title. With young starlets cropping up around, the veteran will look to prove that he still is amongst the elite in the striking department in India.
#2 CK Vineeth (Bengaluru FC)
Chettri's teammate Vineeth is one of those players that will be competing for that tag of top forward in this upcoming i-league season. The man from Kannur hit a purple patch towards the end of 2016.
After playing a key role in Bengaluru's run to the AFC Cup final, he flew to the aid of his ISL side, Kerala Blasters, to provide some much-needed impetus midway through their campaign. Vineeth's impact was immediate as in his first appearance, on as an 85th-minute substitute, he scored the winning goal in the 95th minute in the game against FC Goa. Vineeth's return marked an uptick in form for the Blasters as they made the final riding on his five goals from just six appearances.
Despite only playing in about half the tournament, he finished as the top Indian goalscorer at ISL 2016.
#3 Balwant Singh (Mohun Bagan)
After playing a key role in Bagan's 2014-15 i-league title triumph, Balwant found his appearances limited last time around as he only featured five times, scoring twice owing to injuries. Bagan ran Bengaluru close and finished the season on a high when they beat Bengaluru 5-0 at home in their final league game of last season.
Looking to claim the title once more, Balwant is expected to have a key role as coach Sanjoy Sen looks to pair him with Scottish striker Darryl Duffy up front. With skilled attackers all round in the Bagan side, Balwant could once again have a good scoring run. He will miss the opening game of the season though after picking up an injury in training two days ago.
#4 Chhangte Lallianzuala (DSK Shivajians)
Despite being only 19, many eyes are on this lad from Mizoram for he holds much potential. Chhangte was the top scorer in the U-19 i-league of 2014-15 where he scored 16 goals for his side.
The lad from the North-East followed that up with 11 in the same competition the next year. He even scored a brace on his full debut for the senior national team, in the process becoming the second youngest player to score for India
#5 Sumit Passi (DSK Shivajians)
Another bright young prospect in the Pune outfit, Passi is held in high regard by Shivajians' boss Dave Rogers. According to Rogers, Passi has "good pedigree" and has claimed that the technical staff at the club are "excited to be working with such a good young talent."
Passi has joined DSK from Sporting Club de Goa for whom he scored five goals in nine appearances last season. The youngster is also high on national coach Stephen Constantine's agenda and is definitely one to look out for.
