ISL 2017/18: Kerala Blasters captain Sandesh Jhingan becomes first Indian player to make 50 appearances in the competition

What's the story?

Kerala Blasters fan-favourite Sandesh Jhingan has become the first Indian player to make 50 appearances in the history of the Indian Super League after he was named in the starting lineup for his team's match against the Delhi Dynamos on Wednesday.

The defender is one of the biggest names to have emerged from the ISL in the last few seasons and is set to cross the half-century mark, which highlight his incredible levels of consistency.

In case you didn't know...

Jhingan is in his fourth season with the Kerala Blasters, a team co-owned by cricketing icon Sachin Tendulkar.

With the team, he has reached the ISL final on two occasions in 2014 and 2016, and was also named the captain of the team for the ongoing campaign.

The heart of the matter

The 24-year-old has become the first Indian to make 50 appearances in the Indian Super League in his ongoing stint with the Blasters. On top of the overall charts is his Kerala teammate Iain Hume, who has also played for ATK in Season 2 and 3.

Jhingan is one of the biggest fan favourites for the Kerala fans, having entered the limelight with his exploits in Season 1. He is known for his fearless tackling and leadership qualities, which have also seen him become a national team regular.

What's next?

With his side struggling for form this season, Jhingan would look to lead them to victory against bottom-of-the-table Delhi Dynamos and spark their bid for the playoffs once again.

Author's take

Jhingan is certainly one of the biggest finds from the four seasons of the Indian Super League. His latest record is a testament to his unwavering determination and incredible consistency and one hopes he will continue to grow in the coming future!