ISL 2017: Top 10 Indian players to look out for

Finally, ISL 2017 is upon us. Unlike the previous three editions, this time it promises to be a league spanning over four months and consists of 10 teams battling it out for the championship. So to get you folks up to speed - here's a list of Indian players you could expect to hear a lot about in the next four months.

Sunil Chhetri (Bengaluru FC) :

Sunil Chhetri is undoubtedly the biggest name in Indian football at this moment by a country-mile. Sunil scores, creates, drops deep, breaks up play, sprints for counters, and is a leader through and through.

His prolific goal scoring record for club and country is unmatched. Having represented Mumbai City FC on loan in the previous two ISL editions - Sunil was one of the four players to be retained by his parent club Bengaluru FC ahead of the club's first taste of the ISL. He may be on the wrong side of the 30's, but Sunil currently holds the record for being the highest goalscorer for India.

If his recent form and fitness is any indication, it does not look like he will be stopping anytime soon. A huge part of BFC's success or failure will rest on Sunil's shoulders, and he definitely is no stranger to that responsibility.

Anas Edathodika (Jamshedpur FC) :

Anas may not be the youngest anymore but this 30-year-old Central Defender from Malappuram emerged as the joint most expensive player when he was drafted at a whopping ?1.1 crores by the newly inducted Jamshedpur FC.

After two highly successful seasons at the Delhi Dynamos - Anas managed to impress all the right people to earn his senior national team debut, earlier this year and has all but solidified himself at the centre of the Indian defence, along with Sandesh Jhingan. Anas is an absolute rock at the back, and Jamshedpur FC will be hoping his experience comes in handy if they are to progress to the play-offs.

Udanta Singh (Bengaluru FC) :

A product of the prestigious Tata Football Academy, the 21-year-old Udanta is being hailed as the 'next big thing' in Indian footballing circles for a while now. This will be Udanta's first ISL season, and if you are a Bengaluru fan, you cannot be blamed for expecting something special from him.

Also known as the "Flash" among his teammates, this pacey winger is the only player other than the talismanic Sunil Chhetri, to be retained by the two-time I-League champions, which further goes to show the faith the club has placed on his potential. The sight of Udanta steaming down the flanks is sure to give nightmares to a few fullbacks.

Kean Lewis (FC Pune City) :

If you had a chance to watch Delhi Dynamos play last season, Kean Lewis is a name that must still be fresh in your memory. The 25-year-old skillful winger scored four goals in 14 appearances for the Delhi franchise. Having played in the USA with the Houston Dynamos U23 side, Lewis brings a certain flair to the ISL, that is both eye-catching, and highly effective at the same time.

Kean Lewis was picked up by FC Pune City in the draft as Delhi chose to not retain him for whatever reason. He would be looking to put in a strong performance in the ISL, as he would be eager to throw his name in the hat for a spot in the senior national squad.

Brandon Fernandes (FC Goa)

Once touted as the face of Indian football, having undergone trials abroad with clubs like Reading, Sunderland and Leicester City back in 2012, Brandon Fernandes is the Indian footballing equivalent of 'what could have been'.

This dynamic 23-year-old attacking midfielder from Goa is back in India after a subdued spell abroad, and has already played for clubs like Mohun Bagan, Churchill Brothers and Sporting Clube de Goa.

Although his return has been marred by injuries, Brandon played a huge part in guiding a low-budget Churchill Brothers to a respectable 6th position finish in the I-league last season. He initiates most of the attacks, dictates the pace, makes key passes and is deadly on set-pieces. Brandon would be hungry to prove himself and FC Goa fans would not be unfair in counting on the local boy to deliver the goods at this stage.

Sandesh Jhingan (Kerala Blasters FC)

Sandesh Jhingan currently would probably be the first name on the team sheet for both club and country. Jhingan's rise through the ranks has been nothing short of meteoric. He joined Kerala in 2014 and went on to earn the "emerging player of the league" award in the same season.

He made his senior national team debut following his exploits in ISL and has been a vital part in the national team's current unbeaten run. This 24-year-old Punjabi defender is a wall in defence, while also being an aerial threat on set-pieces in the opposition's box. Sandesh signed a three-year deal with the Blasters worth ?3.8 crores which makes him India's highest paid defender. Sandesh's leadership and organisational ability at the back will be invaluable to the Kerala defence.

Eugeneson Lyngdoh (ATK)

It surprised nobody, when the midfield maestro from Meghalaya became the joint most expensive player in ISL after being drafted in for ?1.1 Crores by ATK. Coming from the back of a forgettable I-League campaign that saw Eugene spend most of his time warming the bench - a fresh start is exactly what he needed.

At ATK, Lyngdoh will look to change things around, as he reunites with his mentor from BFC, Ashley Westwood, under whom Lyngdoh has arguably played the best football of his career. Lyngdoh is lethal with his delivery on set-pieces and knows how to pick a pass. ATK will rely heavily on him to recreate the same magic that saw him earn the 2015 'AIFF Player of the Year' Award.

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (Bengaluru FC)

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu created history when he became the first Indian ever to play in the UEFA Europa league. The 6'4" custodian has made his return to India after a stint in Europe and looks more than ready to make his mark in his first ever ISL.

Having been snapped up by BFC for an undisclosed amount, Gurpreet has been part of the club's fruitful AFC Cup campaign that ended in a closely fought semi-final defeat. He has also established himself as the first choice goalkeeper for the Indian national team, which is currently enjoying a historic unbeaten run. Gurpreet is a fan favorite in Bengaluru, and with him in goal, it's going to be extra hard for teams to get through the last line of Bengaluru defence.

Jeje Lalpekhlua (Chennaiyin FC)

The 2016 AIFF 'Player of the Year' Jeje Lalpekhlua is no stranger to expectations and accolades. The 26-year-old striker from Mizoram has been a regular for Chennaiyin in front of the attack, scoring 9 times in his 20 appearances.

Jeje is a true poacher and has a knack for finding the back of the net on a regular basis. He has been the face of Chennaiyin ever since the inaugural edition of ISL in 2014 and the club has shown their faith in the mercurial striker by retaining him on a lucrative three-year contract.

In fact, John Gregory, the new head coach of Chennaiyin has compared Jeje's relentless will to score with the legendary Alan Shearer, which is some high praise to say the least. Jeje would surely love to meet his gaffer's expectations.

C.K. Vineeth (Kerala Blasters FC)

A fan favourite on and off the pitch, C.K. VIneeth looks all but ready to set the stage on fire in this season of Hero ISL. Vineeth's exploits saw the Kerala outfit storm into the finals of the previous edition and to nobody's surprise, the striker from Kannur has been retained by the Sachin Tendulkar-owned club for the 4th season.

Vineeth's greatest assets are his pace and finishing. The 29-year-old would be looking to make a strong case for his return to playing for the country and prove a point to the national team coach Stephen Constantine after the latter left him out of the national squad for the recent run of games. The Manjappada would be hoping this fuels his hunger and materialises into goals for their side.