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What's the story?
Last season's finallists, Kerala Balsters have confirmed star defender Sandesh Jhingan as the captain of the Kochi-based side, one day ahead of the start of the ISL 2017 season.
The Blasters are set to face old foes ATK in the opening match of the ISL at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi, on Friday.
In case you didn't know
Jhingan has already had leadership experience, as he had been handed the captain's armband of the Indian national team, during the Tri-Nation Series, which also involved Mauritius and St Kitts and Nevis.
Heart of the matter
Earlier this morning, sources within Kerala Blasters had confirmed to Sportskeeda that former Manchester United star Wes Brown will be the captain for the Kochi-based side. However, Jhingan was named as the captain after a last-minute meeting by the club management.
Jhingan is one of the crowd favourites at Kerala Blasters, having been at the club ever since its inception. He has seen the club through thick and thin, having played two ISL finals in 2014 and 2016. They also had a torrid season in 2015, when they finished rock bottom of the league.
What's next?
The Kerala Blasters have been the third most successful team in the ISL, having finished runners up on two occasions. However, they would be looking to get their revenge on ATK, who had beaten them on both these occasions, in the opening match on Friday.
Author's take
Jhingan is one of the best football players in India, at the moment, and a leadership roles in one of the most followed clubs in the country could do a lot of good to his football career. As he gathers more experience over the years, his new leadership role could also help the Indian national team in the future.
