'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Total expenditure – 3.04 crore
Squad
Note: Value of each player in brackets. Loan fee share is included for players who were contracted to IMG-Reliance; the rest are on loan from I-League clubs.
Goalkeepers: Abhijit Mondal (10 lakh), Shilton Paul (31.5 lakh)
Defenders: Gouramangi Singh (80 lakh + 33% loan fee share), Dhanachandra Singh (22.5 lakh), Khelemba Meetei (22 lakh + 25% loan fee share), Abhishek Das (6.5 lakh)
Midfielders: Harmanjot Singh Khabra (19 lakh), Denson Devadas (33 lakh + 50% loan fee share), Dane Pereira (6.75 lakh), NP Pradeep (17 lakh + 75% loan fee share), Jaison Vales (17 lakh + 33% loan fee share), Anthony Barbosa (14 lakh + 33% loan fee share)
Forwards: Jeje Lalpekhlua (23 lakh), Jayesh Rane (4.5 lakh)
Overview
The Sun Group-owned franchise tied up with I-League champions Bengaluru FC for technical help and that certainly played dividends on the first day of the draft as they picked up big names like Harmanjot Singh Khabra, Jeje Lalpekhlua and Gouramangi Singh besides getting consistent I-League performers like Dhanachandra Singh and Shilton Paul. Their big name on day two was India’s 2007 Nehru Cup final hero NP Pradeep with East Bengal duo Abhishek Das and Abhijit Mondal also getting picked. Overall Bengaluru were the second lowest spenders of the draft but have the second most experienced squad in terms of international caps although around half of it is due to the presence of Gouramangi, who has made 72 appearances for India.
Strengths
In terms of individual talent, Bengaluru have one of the best group of players with Gouramangi, Dhanachandra, Shilton, Khabra, Denson and Jeje either being the best in their position in terms of experience or based on last season’s I-League performance. The goalkeeping department looks particularly strong with Shilton and Abhijit being the first choice of the two big clubs of Kolkata – Mohun Bagan and East Bengal respectively.
Weaknesses
One area of weakness for Bengaluru is the fact that their wide midfielders or wingers are not necessarily among the best in the country. Indian players will be expected to fill wide areas of each franchise with foreigners playing in the key central roles and the likes of Jaison Vales or Anthony Barbosa are not necessarily match winners. Bengaluru also lack utility players with their first pick Khabra being the most versatile by far.
Player to Watch
Harmanjot Singh Khabra
The Punjabi lad’s low price tag is possibly due to the fact that he missed the majority of last season due to injury but Khabra has undoubtedly been one of the best Indian players in the last three years and is unlucky not to be in the national team. The East Bengal captain is determined to repay the faith the Bengaluru franchise showed in him by picking him in the first round.
