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The Hero Indian Super League (ISL) season is nearing its business end as the race for the top four intensifies by the day. Season Two of the ISL has been a huge improvement as far as the standard of game is concerned as the league has seen the Indian players come to the party big time, while many foreign recruits have hit the ground running.There have been a large number of new additions to the ISL with Bengaluru FC, Pune FC and Royal Wahingdoh allowing its players to participate in the ISL, and some of these new additions too have been impressive in the season so far.We take a look at the 5 most improved players in ISL Season 2:
#5 Anas Edathodika
Anas Edathodika wasn’t a part of the ISL Season One as his parent club Pune FC didn’t allow any of their players to join the ISL. However, there wasn’t any such limitation this time and Edathodika was picked up by Delhi Dynamos in the auction.
Anas wasn’t exactly a regular starter for Delhi Dynamos early on in the season, but has managed not just to get into the side, but has also cemented a place for himself at the heart of the Delhi Dynamos defence and forged a great partnership with John Arne Riise.
He has grown into a top-class defender and has earned the praise of his head coach Roberto Carlos on a number of occasions. Even though he didn’t play in the ISL last season, Anas Edathodika has been improving every game and has managed to get to that next level playing for Delhi Dynamos this season.
#4 Mandar Rao Dessai
FC Goa’s Mandar Rao Dessai is the new star on the horizon for Zico’s men. Having played for FC Goa in the previous campaign, Mandar Rao Dessai wasn’t able to make the same impact as he has done this season. The winger has been setting the flanks on fire along with Romeo Fernandes and has also taken the pressure off Romeo a bit.
Zico has also used Mandar from the start, but he has been equally effective from the bench with his energetic running at the jaded full-backs. He has also scored thrice for FC Goa this season, which was something he wasn’t able to do last season, apart from providing two assists.
Mandar has been a much more integral part of FC Goa’s attacks this season and has been one of the most improved young players in the ISL.
#3 Iain Hume
Iain Hume played for the Kerala Blasters last term and had a good campaign for them scoring five times, including a crucial goal in the semi-final against Chennaiyin FC. Hume moved to Champions Atletico de Kolkata before season two and was expected to be an instant hit at the Salt Lake Stadium.
However, things did not go as per plan for the Canadian forward as he failed to score a goal in Atletico de Kolkata’s first five games.
But against Mumbai City FC, when Atletico de Kolkata were on a three-game losing streak, Iain Hume put himself back in the limelight with a hat-trick. After that, there has been no looking back for the former Leicester City striker, who has found the net consistently for the Champions.
His performances have ensured that they don’t miss Helder Postiga too much upfront. Iain Hume has formed a vital part of Atletico de Kolkata’s set up and looks much more than the player that he was with Kerala Blasters last season.
The recent match against Pune showed how good Hume has become as his second hat-trick of the season helped Atletico become the first team to qualify for the semifinals this season. With his 9 goals, he has been one of the best players in the league this season.
His work-rate and eye for goal, in addition to his leadership have stood out. Considering that he was the Player of the Tournament last season, it would have been difficult to improve on that but Hume has shown everyone that he has stepped up his game another level.
#2 Mohammed Rafi
Mohammed Rafi switched from Atletico de Kolkata to Kerala Blasters in the close season as Rafi got an opportunity to play for his hometown team. Rafi was also a player who had a pretty decent first season and has slotted in perfectly in the Kerala Blasters fold.
Having scored four goals this campaign, he is the second-highest Indian scorer after Sunil Chhetri.
He though, has had to be content with a place on the bench of late thanks to the sublime form of Chris Dagnall and Antonio German. But, Rafi is usually Phelan’s go to man from the bench as the Englishman has used the Kerala Blasters forward cleverly.
Despite a disappointing season for the Kerala Blasters as a team, Rafi has been one of the pick of the Indian players in this league and has improved tremendously from last season.
#1 John Stiven Mendoza
The Colombian was a success in the first season of the ISL, netting five times for Marco Materazzi’s men. However his season was curtailed by an injury which saw him fail to further add to his tally.
Mendoza came back with a greater vigour this season and has single-handedly put Chennaiyin FC in a position to qualify for the next round.
Stiven Mendoza has become more lethal in front of the goal, netting ten goals so far this campaign. He has also forged a great partnership with Elano and Jeje upfront, which has coincided with Chennaiyin FC’s rise this season.
In the second season of the ISL, he has been able to truly showcase his real talent and would be the most important factor if the Chennai side manage to qualify for the semi-finals.
So, this lethal finisher and highly talented footballer is one of the most improved players in season two of the ISL.
