I-League 2018-19: Top 5 Indian players to watch out for

The top tier football league of India, the I-League is stated to begin the day after tomorrow when Chennai City FC play host to the AIFF's development side Arrows.

This season of the I-League is billed by many to be the last season of the I-League as we know it, as talks of a merger and revamped roadmap of Indian Football is on the cards. As per a report, that is being floated around, FIFA and AFC have given AIFF 2019 as the deadline to sort out the mess of duel league running parallel and both leagues having continental berth spots.

Even among all these uncertainties of next season, this season's I-League promises to be a cracker with teams from Kashmir to Kerala and Manipur to Goa featuring in the truly pan India tournament.

For years now I-League has been the main breeding ground for Indian talents, and it is often said that if a player can prove his mettle in the I-League only then can he be counted as ready.

The colonial cousin of the I-League, i.e. the cash-rich ISL have nearly all the big names of Indian football, but all those big names became big names by playing in the all-important I-League.

In this piece, we take a look at 5 Indian players to watch out for during this I-League season:

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#5 Baoringdao Bodo (Gokulam Kerala)

The youngster is touted for a big future

The agile and acrobatic young striker from Assam is one of the golden boys to graduate from the AIFF Elite Academy. The 19-year-old lad has had a training stint in FC Mertz and is on loan to Gokulam Kerala from ISL Champions Chennaiyin FC.

Bodo already has appeared for Chennaiyin FC in the ISL and is one of their future stars. Joining Gokulam is probably one of the best deals to happen to the lad as the move guarantees him with proper game time and a chance to improve his game more.

The lad from Assam is no stranger to the I-League having played for Minerva Punjab in the 2016-17 I-League season. He is also the youngest ever player to score in the I-League when he scored against Mumbai FC in Ludhiana.

With two years of experience and training, the lad is one of those who can break the threshold point and emerge to be one the best strikers in the country.

#4 Pintu Mahata (Mohun Bagan)

The 21-year-old works his magic from the wings

Mohun Bagan's man for big games this season hasn't been the fancied Dicka and Kisseka but a lad from the troubled red corridor (Naxalite) prone villages of Bengal named Pintu Mahata. A product of the Mohun Bagan SAIL academy, the lad, has been with Mohun Bagan for some time now.

Pintu was Mohun Bagan's surprise ace in the pack, and his heroics helped the Mariners pick up the coveted Calcutta Football League after eight long years.

His ability to take a stand and perform in big matches and deliver during crucial encounters will be essential to Mohun Bagan's plan during this season.

Shankarlal and Pintu seem to have excellent coach-player bonding, and both of them seem to exert the best out of each other.

Pintu's quality of popping up in the box at the right time and his ability to beat his man with slyness and speed are things teams must counter if they are to keep this man quiet.

#3 Singam Subhas Singh (NEROCA)

Subhas can play anywhere across the frontline

Subhas Singh is undoubtedly one of the fastest Indian strikers or attackers present. Generally a striker, the Manipuri lad can also play on either flank and is equally dangerous as from the wings.

He played a crucial role in NEROCA's success last season scoring four goals in the I-League and one in the Super Cup. It was constant changing of positions and drifting out wide that helped striker Felix Chidi to get free spaces in the box and score goals.

Subhas also has a high work rate and can often be seen dropping back to help the wing backs and press to gain possession back. NEROCA will require Subhas to be in peak form if they want to have a successful season like last year.

The Manipuri striker's sudden burst of speed and the way he shields the ball and brings others into play are some of the other traits that will trouble the opponents if they fail to check him.

#2 Lalrindika Ralte (East Bengal)

Dika is the best Indian creative player on show in the I-League

Lalrindika Ralte or 'Dika' as he is fondly known as is one of the few stars of Indian football playing in the I-League this season. He is someone who needs little introduction to in Indian football and has been in the I-League and the ISL scenario for the last ten years despite being only 26 years old.

He is undoubtedly one of the best creative players present in India and when entirely fit only a few players can be better than him in India.

Coaches like Trevor Morgan, Armando Collaco, and even rival coaches like Steve Derby have gone on record to state that Dika probably has the best left foot in the country.

Superstar Nicolas Anelka, with whom Dika played in Mumbai City Fc claimed that Dika was the best and most intelligent player Anelka saw in India and felt the young lad has the potential to play in Europe.

A string of long-term injuries hurt his form last season, but he seems to have regained his old charm after rejoining East Bengal this season.

He was phenomenal during the first derby game of the season and completely changed the game on its head after coming on as a late first-half substitute.

With Alejandro Menendez opting to play Dika through the centre in a creative role like Morgan expect the Mizo Midfielder to produce some delicious through balls. Also with Dika on the pitch one can never rule out a 30-yard screamer or a bullet long ranger.

#1 Samuel Lalmuanpuia (Shillong Lajong)

Lalmuanpuia will have to shoulder the responsibility of captaincy

The Reds of Shillong, Shillong Lajong have decided not to sign any foreign players and will play with an all Indian team this season in the I-League.

Most of the squad that Lajong has is below 20, and the highest aged player is 25. Captaining such a young team will again be Lajong's very own Samuel Lalmuanpuia. Samuel caught everyone's eyeballs during the previous I-League season with his impeccable dead ball skills, pinpoint passes and near perfect positioning.

This season is being termed as the season the 20-year-old Mizo Midfielder breaks into the national team scenario. Having already had a year of experience in captaining the side the Mizo lad will have even more on his shoulders this season as he won't have the support of any foreign players this time around.

It is safe to say that most of Lajong's fate in the I-League rests on Samuel's shoulders and the I-League's best young player last year will have to perform like last season if Lajong is to be in the top half of the table.

If he can play the way people know he can play and lead the likes of Phrangi Buam, Kerstar Kardong and Rakesh Pradhan, then Lajong could be the perfect party spoilers for a lot of the so-called favourites.