Continuing our series looking at the top 10 Indian players in each position in 2016, we now move on to the midfielders. Some new talents have emerged, some veterans have shown that experience matters a lot more than a lot of other things on the football pitch.
These are the men who controlled the play for their sides, pulling the strings from the middle of the park. We have a clear winner though – head and shoulders above the rest of the field.
The voting by fans
We sent out a poll for fans to vote on which Indian midfielder had the best year, and Sportskeeda experts also weighed in on the matter.
The one with the highest vote received 10 points, and the one with the lowest got 1 point. The scores from Sportskeeda’s list and the Reader’s choice are then added together, with an average score being taken. In the situation of two players tied, Sportskeeda’s ranking takes preference.
Here’s how our readers voted:
Here are the rankings after Sportskeeda experts’ choices were also taken into consideration:
#10 Siam Hanghal
Readers’ Ranking – 10
The Manipuri must have had high hopes of himself heading into 2016. But in the I-League, he could not force himself into the reckoning for Bengaluru FC. He played only two games in the entire I-League season for the champions – a 4-1 home win against DSK Shivajians and a 2-2 draw at Sporting Clube de Goa. He also played three games in the group stage of Bengaluru’s dream AFC Cup run.
But he was released at the end of the I-League season, meaning that he could not be part of the home stretch of Bengaluru’s AFC Cup campaign. He was instead off to Perugia in Italy where Chennaiyin FC had their pre-season training camp.
Hanghal clearly impressed Marco Materazzi and featured in 10 out of the 14 games in the Chennaiyin’s disastrous defence of their title. He displaced Harmanjot Khabra from the side – that was big considering that Khabra had been one of Materazzi’s favourite Indians in the Chennaiyin squad.
The ISL has been another launchpad for Hanghal after the I-League didn’t go as well as he would have wanted it to. Now, it is about taking that form and translating it into more consistent performances at all levels.
#9 Alwyn George
Readers’ Ranking – 8th
2016 was the year when Alwyn George well and truly put himself on the Indian football map. It was a mixed start to his Bengaluru FC career under Ashley Westwood. He played only six I-League games, but was thrust into the limelight in the AFC Cup when the British manager rested a few of his stars.
Alwyn scored twice in the Blues’ 5-3 win over Ayeyawady United of Myanmar and he went into the end of the I-League season full of confidence. The change of management could not have come at a better time for him.
Albert Roca trusted the man from Nagpur with a spot on the right wing. Although the output that Alwyn gave does not reflect in the numbers, he was a crucial cog in Roca’s Bengaluru wheel. He put in an immense amount of work on whichever flank he was played on. That was important because invariably, Bengaluru had youngsters playing in one or both the full-back positions.
Nishu Kumar and Salam Ranjan Singh benefitted hugely from having Alwyn tracking back, which took the defensive weight off their shoulders. Alwyn’s role meant that it was easier for Roca to put Eugeneson Lyngdoh in the no. 10 role where he did wreak havoc.
#8 Malsawmzuala
Readers’ Ranking – 9
If Siam Hanghal didn’t play too many games, it was because of this unassuming youngster. Sawmtea was 18 years old when the I-League started and it said a lot about his ability that Ashley Westwood trusted him with playing that defensive midfield role.
It was huge for Bengaluru that Sawmtea developed as much as did and adapted into the role. Josh Walker had just got injured before the start of the season and Eugeneson Lyngdoh missed a few games in the middle because of an injury.
It meant that without their lynchpins in midfield, someone had to step up to the plate. That someone was Sawmtea.
But in the second half of 2016, in Bengaluru’s AFC Cup campaign, Sawmtea didn’t feature as much. That was because of the signings of Cameron Watson and Alvaro Rubio. But the youngster wouldn’t have complained as there would have been so much for him to learn from the wealth of experience that the Australian and Spaniard brought with them.
#7 Sehnaj Singh
Readers’ Ranking – 6
Sehnaj started the year with East Bengal in the I-League. He played only eight games in the league and did his bit in helping the big Kolkata side finish third and having an outside chance to play in the 2017 AFC Cup.
But what made Sehnaj’s year as good as it was, was his stint with Mumbai City FC in the ISL. He played either in central midfield or at right-back.
In central midfield, he caught the eye in the initial part of the tournament as he excelled in the partnership with Pronay Halder. That impressed even Diego Forlan, who was Mumbai’s marquee player.
But Sehnaj’s biggest strength is his versatility and that was on show in the latter part of the tournament, as he made a huge impression at right-back. He played really well at that position, meaning that Mumbai could play both Krisztian Vadocz and Gerson Viera in midfield.
As part of the larger scheme of things for Alexandre Guimaraes, Sehnaj’s versatility was a huge asset.
#6 Pronay Halder
Readers’ Ranking – 7
Pronay headed into 2016 on the back of a terrible low, as he conceded a penalty in last year’s ISL final for FC Goa against Chennaiyin. But at the end of the year, one can safely say that he has gotten over that mistake and put it behind him.
Along with Bikramjit Singh, he formed a very effective double pivot for Mohun Bagan throughout the I-League. He impressed in the 3-1 win over Tampines Rovers in the first qualifying round for the AFC Champions League as well.
It was a noticeable factor in Pronay’s year that he adjusted brilliantly to playing with different midfield partners for different sides. If it was Bikramjit for the Mariners, it was Sehnaj for Mumbai City FC and invariably it was Rowlin Borges or Eugeneson Lyngdoh when it came to the national team.
And what we got from Pronay was what is always expected from him. He was energetic, snapped into challenges, and evidently, his passing range was much improved.
But a foot injury after six ISL games ended his season – and that was a huge blow, both personally and for Mumbai. Pronay was playing brilliantly and his presence ensured that the likes of Matias Defederico and Leo Costa did not have to worry about the defensive side of things.
#5 Mohammad Rafique
Readers’ Ranking – 3
Rafique is a kind of midfielder that has not been seen too often in Indian football in the recent past. He has a cultured right foot and is very comfortable in possession of the ball. The problem with India is that far too often recently, the midfielders have been combative and energetic but couldn’t produce the quality with the ball at their feet.
Rafique is different and he showed that throughout the year, be it with East Bengal or with the Kerala Blasters.
He played 12 games in the I-League and was among the first names on the teamsheet of both Biswajit Bhattacharya and Trevor Morgan. But it was the ISL where Rafique had his better performances of the year.
He didn’t start every game in the ISL, but when he came on as a substitute, he always had the impact that Coppell desired.
An additional plus for Rafique is his composure from the penalty spot. Both of Kerala’s knockout games in the ISL went to a penalty shootout, and Rafique was given the responsibility in both. In both cases, the response was similar, as he rolled the ball into the back of the net, sending the keeper the wrong way.
#4 Milan Singh
Readers’ Ranking – 5
Milan was a revelation in 2016. He came of age this year. He started the year with DSK Shivajians in the I-League and even though the Pune-based club finished bottom of the league, there was no denying the quality Milan showed. Delhi Dynamos snapped him up without any hesitation.
And the Manipuri revelled under Gianluca Zambrotta. He scored two goals as well – one, an absolute stunner against Atletico de Kolkata that gave Delhi a point from that game.
Milan’s importance to this Delhi side was epitomized by the fact that he played 13 out of the 16 games that the Dynamos played in the league.
Playing with Marcos Tebar gave Milan the freedom to move forward more than he usually does, but he did not ignore the defensive side of his game. His biggest strength is his energy and he showed that as he snapped at opposition midfielders and did not give them any peace on the ball.
Milan’s destination for next year’s I-League is not yet decided, but one can be assured that whichever club gets him has one hell of a player on their hands.
#3 Rowllin Borges
Readers’ Ranking – 4
The Goan youngster started the year on the highest note possible. In the SAFF Cup final against Afghanistan, he was India’s best player on the pitch. On a day when Eugeneson Lyngdoh was not having a great game, he stepped up and proved to be a rock in midfield.
For Sporting Clube de Goa, there was considerable success in the I-League as a team, and Rowllin was at the centre of most good things that they did.
Rowllin was also terrific in NorthEast United’s quest to reach their first ISL semifinal. They fell just short but it was again a stage where the 24-year-old demonstrated his class.
He was one of only three players in their squad not from the north-eastern part of the country, and the Goan proved his owners right, for looking out of just their usual catchment area.
Rowllin Borges will be the country’s most important midfielder in a very short while from now, and if not for a certain Meghalayan, he probably already is.
#2 Mehtab Hossain
Readers’ Ranking – 2
It is a fair shout to call Mehtab Hossain one of the most unlucky footballers in India. Once again, he was part of a team that fell at the final hurdle as Kerala Blasters lost the ISL final on penalties to Atletico de Kolkata.
Mehtab had a fantastic season, on a personal level. He and Mahamat Azrack were terrific in midfield and were among the primary reasons for Kerala’s mid-tournament revival.
Mehtab’s astute reading of the game and excellent passing range make him a valuable player for any team that he plays for. Given his experience, he was a fantastic asset for Steve Coppell as he guided the young Indians in the squad through the stressful situations that Kerala have encountered aplenty over the last two seasons.
#1 Eugeneson Lyngdoh
Readers’ Ranking – 1
Was there any doubt? The man magician from Meghalaya is our best Indian midfielder of the year. It would not be a stretch to say he was probably the best Indian footballer of the year, as a whole.
Lyngdoh is a man for the big occasion and in 2016, he showed that time and time again. In the I-League clash aganist Salgaocar, he opened the scoring and put in a dominating display as the Blues ensured that the league was wrapped up before they made the visit to Siliguri to face Mohun Bagan.
But Lyngdoh’s finest hour of 2016 came over the two legs of the AFC Cup semifinal. Against Johor Darul Ta’zim in Malaysia, he scored a stunning 30-yarder with his left foot to give Bengaluru a priceless away goal and a draw. At the Kanteerava Stadium, he was in his element again.
His set-pieces were pinpoint on the day. Sunil Chhetri opened the scoring with a header off a Lyngdoh corner and Juanan sealed the win for Bengaluru with another header off the midfielder's cross – this time, a perfectly waited free-kick.
It cannot be argued that Eugeneson Lyngdoh is the best midfielder this county has produced for a long time. One can only hope that there are a few more 2016s left in the tank for the magician.
