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An exciting Indian Football Year of 2017 is on the verge of conclusion. Two parallel leagues, a FIFA U17 World Cup, new teams in the I-League and Indian Super League, Aizawl's fairy tale and of course, the men's national team's sojourn of being undefeated.
India's undefeated run in the year has impressed the fans and at the defenders at the back have contributed a lot to the same. Sportskeeda takes a look at the top five Indian defenders in the year 2017.
5) Jerry Lalrinzuala
The 19-year-old has had an impressive 2017 as he was handed a debut by Stephen Constantine for the India senior side. After impressing the fans in the Indian Super League last year, and with impressive performances for DSK Shivajians in the 2016-17 I-League. Jerry Lalrinzuala has 18 appearances to his name for the Reds of Pune in the I-League, thus maintaining a 100% appearance record in India's Premier Football Competition.
Lalrinzuala was a part of the AIFF Elite Academy and Bethlehem Vengthlang of the Mizoram Premier League before signing with Chennaiyin of the Indian Super League. He was signed as one of five young footballers to be sponsored on their training stint with FC Metz in France.
He made his debut for the side in their opening fixture of the season on 8 January 2017 against Mumbai at the Cooperage Ground. He came on as a 62nd-minute substitute for Saša Kolunija as DSK Shivajians fell 1–0. At the end of the I-League season, after playing 18 matches for DSK Shivajians, Lalrinzuala earned the Best Emerging Player of I-League award.
On 19 July 2017, it was announced that Lalrinzuala had been retained by Chennaiyin for the 2017–18 season as a capped under-21 player. He got his first appearance for the 2015 Champions in the 2-3 defeat to FC Goa in the opening match of the season. Despite the loss, he was awarded the 'ISL Emerging Player'. He went on to claim the award again against the very next opponent, NorthEast United. Jerry was awarded the 'Hero of the Match' for his brilliant defensive display in a 0-1 win away from home against FC Pune City.
Jerry Lalrinzuala is slowly becoming an established defensive name in the domestic Circuit and in the good books of national team coach Stephen Constantine as well.
4) Pritam Kotal
The veteran and experienced defender has been pivotal in India's unbeaten run this year, with impressive performances for Kolkata giants Mohun Bagan in the I-League and the Federation Cup. He was drafted by Indian Super League side Delhi Dynamos in the ISL Draft on 23rd July 2017.
The Bengal-based 24-year-old defender played in all the matches of Mohun Bagan in the I-League last season, and also managed to find the net once in the competition. He was pivotal in the Mariners' defence as Mohun Bagan only conceded 12 goals in the entire I-League 2016-17 campaign but somehow ended up finishing second in the league. Kotal also donned the Green and Maroon shirt in the Federation Cup, where the Mariners went on to finish as runners-up.
He changed sides after he left ATK to join Delhi Dynamos in the Indian Super League in 2017, courtesy the draft, a move that seems to have turned his fortunes around for the last couple of months. He played in all of the five matches for Delhi Dynamos and has had a forgetful campaign for them so far.
Kotal featured in seven India games and managed to keep three clean-sheets to his name.
3) Narayan Das
Narayan Das started the year 2017 with Kolkata Giants East Bengal after a free transfer as Dempo SC decided to shut shop their I-League operations was retained by FC Goa in the Indian Super League.
Narayan Das appeared for East Bengal in 13 I-League matches and managed only four cleansheets, which eventually led to East Bengal missing out on their maiden title.
Narayan Das was retained by FC Goa and he has had 5 appearances to his name for the Gaurs so far. He has been an instrumental figure for them in all the matches so far and is part of Sergio Lobera's plans as the league progresses.
Narayan Das was Stephen Constantine's primary choice for playing as a left-back until youngster Jerry Lalrinzuala came in. He appeared for India on seven occasions and helped the Blue Tigers keep only two cleansheets.
He has been relatively consistent throughout the year and needs to be even more consistent to reclaim his spot from Jerry Lalrinzuala.
2) Anas Edathodika
The big revelation of Anas Edathodika started after his successful days with Pune FC and his impressive show for Delhi Dynamos in the previous season. Anas was snapped up by Mohun Bagan for a reported sum of Rs.56 lakh for the year 2017.
He was brilliant for the Mariners along with Pritam Kotal in the I-League last season, as Mohun Bagan only conceded 12 goals in the entire 2016-17 Campaign, but somehow ended up finishing 2nd in the league. Edathodika also donned the Green and Maroon shirt in the Federation Cup, where they lost out to Bengaluru FC in the final.
Anas Edathodika was released by Delhi Dynamos and was the first choice of new-entrants Jamshedpur FC. He has presented the Men of Steel on two occasions and has performed well. However, an injury seems to have sidelined him from the starting XI for now.
2017 was a great year for the boy hailing from Mallapuram in Kerala as he was handed his national team debut on March 22, by Stephen Constantine. He played for the Blue Tigers on seven occasions and earned three cleansheets, becoming a key fixture for India at centre-back, alongside Sandesh Jhingan.
1) Sandesh Jhingan
Jhinghan has been the defensive spearhead for India, Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters. He was signed up by Bengaluru FC for the 2017-18 I-League season.
He made his debut for the Bengaluru FC against Mumbai FC as a 71st-minute substitute for Harmanjot Khabra as Bengaluru won 3–0. Jhingan started his first match on 11 February 2017 against Minerva Punjab in a 1–1 draw. He also played his first ever career Club Continental Match against Mohun Bagan in a 2-1 win. He scored the Blues, which was also his first ever goal for them. Jhingan went on to represent the Bengaluru side 11 times in the league.
Later in the year, Sandesh Jhingan was assigned as the captain of Kerala Blasters after he was retained by them. His consistent performance and leadership skills at the back earned him the captain's armband. The 24-year-old started on every occasion for the Blasters in the 2017-18 Indian Super League season.
Jhingan's height also enables him to win several aerial duels and also head in the goals as was the case against Cambodia, earlier this year.
He started every game for India in 2017 and eked out three clean-sheets for the Blue Tigers. His partnership with Anas Edathodika has proved a menace for the opposition forwards.
