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AIFF’s commercial and marketing partners IMG-Reliance have signed 37 Indian players already for their newly-proposed IPL-style tournament. Although all these players won’t be playing for the same team, just to analyse the quality of the signings, Sportskeeda selects the best possible XI from the list of 37.
Formation: 4-4-2
Goalkeeper: Subrata Pal
India’s number one is still regarded the best goalkeeper in the country despite an inconsistent club campaign for Prayag United last season. Subrata is one of the marquee Indian players of this project and thus will certainly be a wanted man at the auctions. At 26, the former East Bengal and Pune FC goalkeeper is nearing his peak so IMG-R will be delighted to have him on board.
Right Back: Nirmal Chettri
The versatile defender is another IMG-R contracted player who is among the 30-man probables for India’s upcoming away international friendly against Tajikistan on August 14. Nirmal joined East Bengal as a teenager five years ago but established himself as one of the best young defenders in the country after a memorable four-year spell. After a difficult campaign with Mohun Bagan last term, he will be eager to shine in this new tournament.
Center Back: Sandesh Jhingan
Sandesh Jhingan (no.5)
The 20-year-old caught the attention of Wim Koevermans and several I-League coaches despite playing for a United Sikkim team that got relegated last season. Jhingan had even reportedly got the opportunity to have trials at a few Chinese clubs but due to injury, that didn’t materialise. The youngster will certainly be excited by the prospect of playing with and against some renowned foreign stars in the new tournament.
Center Back: Gouramangi Singh
Among current India players, there are not too many who can match the international experience of this Manipuri defender. Gouramangi has been indispensable to club and country in the last fix to six years and the improvement in his form at Prayag United after a slow start last season showed that he has maturely immensely over the years. The 2010 AIFF Player of the Year is a valuable addition in this new project.
Left Back: Syed Rahim Nabi
The reigning AIFF Player of the Year was among the first few players to publicly announce his association with the IMG-R event. Nabi has been India’s most consistent player in the post Bob Houghton era and also been offered a trial by MLS outfit DC United. It remains to be seen whether he goes ahead with the trials but there is no doubt that he will be a key figure of football’s IPL.
Right Midfielder: Sanju Pradhan
Sanju Pradhan (second from left)
The Sikkimese versatile medio captained East Bengal last season and played an important role in their progression to the AFC Cup quarter-finals. Like Nirmal, Sanju too matured as a player and person during his East Bengal spell and also became a full India international last year, winning the 2012 Nehru Cup. The former Air India man is one of the most creative and skillful players to have joined this IMG-R venture.
Central Midfielder: Sushanth Matthew
Sushanth Mathhew (middle)
Sushanth can play in any outfield position but is best known as a hard working central midfielder. Until the disbandment of Mahindra United in 2010, Sushant was one of the best midfielders in the country but became a bit-part player at East Bengal in his two-year spell there. He missed the first half of last season due to injury but joined Mohun Bagan on loan in the winter window and helped them avoid relegation.
Central Midfielder: Manish Maithani
The former India U-23 international opted to join the IMG-Reliance project despite having several offers from I-League clubs. Maithani, who hails from Dehradun, came to the limelight during Karim Bencherifa’s first spell at Mohun Bagan, scoring in the famous 5-3 win over East Bengal in 2009. Since then he has represented India U-23 at the Asian Games and also been a part of the senior national team setup.
Left Midfielder: Ishfaq Ahmed
Ishfaq Ahmed (left)
The Kashmiri is another player who has publicly confirmed that he has signed with IMG-Reliance. Ishfaq was unfortunate not to get a call up to the national team despite being one of the best Indian players in the 2008-09 campaign. After a few inconsistent seasons, Ishfaq restored his reputation with a fine season at East Bengal last term and the wide attacking midfielder would be eager to build on that while playing in the the newly-founded tournament.
Forward: Sushil Kumar Singh
This 24-year-old Manipur striker has always divided opinion in Indian football as many fans over the years have questioned his inclusion in the national team because for a forward his conversion rate hasn’t ever been great. But the fact that he has been called up to the senior team under four different coaches shows that Sushil certainly has the talent and IMG-R would be hoping to make the maximum use of it.
Forward: Mohammed Rafi
The 31-year-old striker was one of the few players to make India’s 2011 Asian Cup squad through I-League performance as he netted 13 in the 2009-10 campaign for Mahindra United. Rafi started against Australia in Qatar 2011 but after that tournament was consistently troubled by injuries. He played for Mumbai Tigers last season and would be determined to revive his career by playing well in football’s IPL.
