India vs Jordan: Ranking ISL clubs by their number of Indian National Team players 

The Indian Super League is a major driving force of the national team now, with 29 of the 30 men in the probable list being a part of the league
The Indian Super League is a major driving force of the national team now, with 29 of the 30 men in the probable list being a part of the league

Indian Super League is nearing its second break of the season, from 11th November, as the national team is beginning its preparations for the friendly against Jordan.

The two teams will be facing each other for the first time on November 17 at the King Abdullah II International Stadium in Amman.

Stephen Constantine has announced the 30-man probable squad for the friendly, as it's the first step to the match.

The fixture is a preparatory match for India's Asian Cup journey next year and the objective is kept in mind while selecting the team. It is clearly a squad with a long-term view and ISL's contributions to it are prominent.

The Indian Super League is, without doubt, a major driving force of the Indian National Team now, with 29 of the 30 men in the probable list being a part of the league.

The only non-ISL player announced is East Bengal's Salam Ranjan Singh. The pickings are made easy as most players actively involved in a 'big-fame' league. The manager can have an overall assumption of the players he handles.

A very positive fact Indian football can digest is that every ISL team has a player contributed to the Indian Nation Team Probable squad.

The footballing talent in the nation is being spread and identified without any stillness. A look at how many players from each ISL team has made it to the probables is looked upon here.


#10 NorthEast United FC - One

The Goa-born has been a consistent performer for the Highlanders (Image Courtesy: ISL)
The Goa-born has been a consistent performer for the Highlanders (Image Courtesy: ISL)

Rowllin Borges is NorthEast United FC's only player who has been named in the list. The Goa-born has been a consistent performer for the Highlanders in all the four seasons, which has bought him a place at the national team.

The midfielder is a regular for the Indian national team since 2015. Borges has played 22 matches for India and scored two goals.

In the recent friendly against China, the 26-year old was not given a start but was used later on as a substitute. If not Pronay Halder, Borges will be assigned the role at central midfield against Jordan.

#9 FC Goa - Two

Jackichand Singh has been racking up decent performances with FC Goa this season
Jackichand Singh has been racking up decent performances with FC Goa this season

Two FC Goa players named in the probable squad are - Jackichand Singh and Manvir Singh.

Jackichand Singh has been racking up decent performances with FC Goa this season, which has made Constantine call for the player once again.

He has already scored two goals for FC Goa this ISL season. Jackichand too got into national team books after his performances at the ISL.

He made his national team debut in 2015 and has played 16 games so far, scoring two goals. It will be a tough fight for the 26-year old to get a place, with the likes of Udanta Singh and Halicharan Narzary competing.

Manvir Singh has not got much time on the field with FC Goa this season. He has appeared in 4 matches, mostly as a substitute.

The striker has played four matches for the Indian team and scored three goals, two of which came in the SAFF Championship 2018.

With players like Sunil Chhetri, Jeje and Balwant Singh available, Manvir Singh seems to be a doubtful name in the final XI.

#8 Mumbai City FC - Two

The young defender has made 10 national team appearances, including the friendly against China
The young defender has made 10 national team appearances, including the friendly against China

Mumbai City FC players named in the probables for the Jordan friendly are - Amrinder Singh and Subhasish Bose. Both are regular starters for the Mumbai-based outfit and top names at the national camp.

Amrinder Singh has been receiving national team calls but is rarely getting any on-field chances.

With Gurpreet Singh Sandhu almost completely sealing his position in front of goal, the 25-year old custodian will have to wait on the bench again.

Against China too, Amrinder had a place on the bench. He has played two matches in the national team jersey and kept one clean sheet.

Subhasish Bose on the other hand has been receiving calls after his good days at Bengaluru FC. The young defender has made 10 national team appearances, including the friendly against China.

Bose is usually seen on either of the wings in Indian colours and is expected to make the final squad ahead of the Jordan encounter.

#7 Jamshedpur FC - Three

While Bikash Jairu was left out from the squad against China, Sumeet Passi and Farukh Choudhary were given spots on the bench
While Bikash Jairu was left out from the squad against China, Sumeet Passi and Farukh Choudhary were given spots on the bench

Bikash Jairu, Sumeet Passi and Farukh Choudhary are three Men of Steel named as India's probables.

The ISL club can certainly be proud of their attacking players being on the circuit for a national team call-up.

While Bikash Jairu was left out from the squad against China, Sumeet Passi and Farukh Choudhary were given spots on the bench, only the latter being offered playing time, as a substitute in the second half.

Still, a matter of concern is the time the three players receive with Jamshedpur FC on the field.

Bikash Jairu has appeared in four matches for the club this season, while Farukh Choudhary and Sumeet Passi has two and five games respectively. Analyzing this stat further, Passi has been given just two starts, the other three have been as a substitute.

Bikash Jairu has played 11 matches in the Indian midfield while Sumeet Passi has led the attack on six occasions. Farukh Choudhary's second day in the Indian colors came last month, at China.

#6 ATK - Three

All the three names have been regularly seen at ATK's lineups and will be hot contenders for the Jordan match
All the three names have been regularly seen at ATK's lineups and will be hot contenders for the Jordan match

Arindam Bhattachrya, Pronay Halder and Balwant Singh are named in the probable squad.

All the three names have been regularly seen at ATK's lineups and will be hot contenders for the Jordan match.

Arindam Bhattacharya remains doubtful due to the hot competition for the custodian role. He has played five international matches but hasn't found a place in the team in recent times. However, the good performances under the bar for ATK might force Constantine to rethink.

Pronay Halder has been doing his midfield duties well, both for club and country. He made his international debut in 2015, and since represented India in 11 matches.

Halder had started against China and was seen in the squad during India's Asian Cup Qualification fixtures.

The 25-year old has played six ISL matches this season and has almost assured his place in Constantine's squad.

Balwant Singh has impressed the national team coach with his performances and was a sure starter against China, but had to drop out from the squad due to travelling issues.

Balwant has scored three goals for India in nine matches since his debut in 2010. In ISL, Balwant has scored a goal this season and is expected to make it to the final squad as his name is in the good books of Constantine.

#5 Delhi Dynamos - Three

All the three players were involved in the match against China
All the three players were involved in the match against China

Pritam Kotal, Narayan Das and Vinit Rai are names included in the probables.

Pritam Kotal and Narayan Das, the two wing guards at Delhi Dynamos are doing disciplined defending works for the club, which has earned them a spot in the national team race yet again.

Vinit Rai got a call-up to the international stage after his performances in the ISL. All the three players were involved in the match against China, Kotal and Das starting, while Vinit Rai coming in as a substitute.

The two defenders have been part of the manager's plan for a few years now. Pritam Kotal made his debut for India in 2015, in Stephen Constantine's first match as head coach and has played 26 games since then.

Narayan Das' Indian team stint began in 2013 and has continued to 24 appearances. Vinit Rai is a new face in the national camp with just one appearance against his name.

Pritam Kotal and Narayan Das for sure and Vinit Rai mostly is expected to travel to Yamman for the friendly.

#4 Kerala Blasters - Three

All the three will be names seriously reviewed by the national team squad, even for the Asian Cup
All the three will be names seriously reviewed by the national team squad, even for the Asian Cup

Few prominent names in the national team come from Kerala Blasters - Sandesh Jhingan, Anas Edathodika and Halicharan Narzary

Sandesh Jhingan and Anas Edathodika has been Constantine's favourite centre-backs displaying clean defending at the back.

Halicharan Narzary was deployed in the wings against China. All the three will be names seriously reviewed by the national team squad, even for the Asian Cup. Against China, Anas was not given a start, but used on in the later half.

Sandesh Jhingan, who was handed the captain's armband in recent times, is a sure name on the team sheet.

He has already had 26 senior caps. Anas Edathodika was a regular name but has missed out on a few matches lately. Though he hasn't been featuring in the ISL, Constantine is expected not to drop the centre-back.

Halicharan Narzary hasn't been working bad both in yellow and blue. He is in good form and is being rotated at Kerala Blasters FC. Even though not sure of a start, the manager is expected to keep him in the squad.

#3 FC Pune City - Four

Vishal Kaith, Sarthak Golui, Nikhil Poojari and Ashique Kuruniyan are the Stallions at the national camp
Vishal Kaith, Sarthak Golui, Nikhil Poojari
and
Ashique Kuruniyan are the Stallions at the national camp

Vishal Kaith, Sarthak Golui, Nikhil Poojari and Ashique Kuruniyan are the Stallions at the national camp.

Vishal Kaith is yet another in-form goalkeeper. He becomes the fourth custodian to be named in the probables squad.

Sarthak Golui is another defender in the squad. Nikhil Poojari and Ashique Kuruniyan are names that are effective in the midfield.

Kaith has been selected to the national camp on various occasions but has not made it to the starting XI yet.

He remains a doubtful inclusion with other senior goalkeepers available for selection. Sathak Golui is another young player yet to make his international debut but has been waiting on the bench for opportunities. He was in the squad that travelled to China, but didn't get any time on the field.

Nikhil Poojari and Ashique Kuruniyan are young legs that offer bench strength to Stephen Constantine.

Both midfielders have been with the national squad, making appearances occasionally. Poojari has already played six games and scored one goal, while Ashique has appeared in five matches.

#2 Chennaiyin FC - Four

Jeje Lalpekhlua has been a regular name in India's outfit with 51 appearances since his debut in 2011
Jeje Lalpekhlua has been a regular name in India's outfit with 51 appearances since his debut in 2011

Although not having a good time in ISL, Chennaiyin FC has four representatives in Constantine's list, with the likes of Jerry Lalrinzuala, Anirudh Thapa, Germanpreet Singh and Jeje Lalpekhlua making it to the probables list.

Jerry Lalrinzuala came into the national circuit with his performances in the ISL. The wing-back was given few chances by the national team manager but was not picked against China.

Jerry has made five international appearances and will be putting up a tough challenge to the rest in defence.

Anirduh Thapa and Germanpreet Singh are hard workers in the Chennaiyin FC midfield. While Thapa has been receiving matches for some time, Germanpreet was not given a place in the squad that faced China.

Anirudh Thapa is expected to make the final squad, but Germanpreet Singh remains doubtful but will be under serious consideration.

Jeje Lalpekhlua has been a regular name in India's outfit with 51 appearances since his debut in 2011. The striker might not be left out, despite his dull run in ISL, but will be having a tough challenge with Balwant Singh for the starting.

#1 Bengaluru FC - Four

The Bengaluru based outfit's contributions to the national team are huge
The Bengaluru based outfit's contributions to the national team are huge

Bengaluru FC players in the national team probables are Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Nishu Kumar, Udanta Singh and Sunil Chhetri.

Out of the four named, 3 were starters during the China encounter, Nishu Kumar being the only absentee.

The Bengaluru based outfit's contributions to the national team are huge. Custodian Gurpreet Singh has been calm and disciplined in front of the goal, not letting down the team. The 26-year old is almost certain to start against Jordan.

Nishu Kumar, the left-back has been doing good defending for his club, which might force the manager to give him an entry.

Though not much playing time, being a part of the team will give the young player a lot of experience.

The other names Sunil Chhetri and Udanta Singh are sure names on the team sheet. If the English manager doesn't go for any experimentation, both are expected to start and will be the most key players in the squad with the speed and agility.

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Edited by Alan John