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Indian Super League (ISL) has been allowing young Indian talents to showcase themselves on the big stage which has diversified the Indian player pool since its inception and this season has been no different.
From talented goalkeepers, robust defenders to elegant midfielders, the current season has allowed some young Indians to blossom on the big stage while the experienced campaigners continue to showcase their versatility and calibre.
#10 Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (Bengaluru FC)
The Indian No.1 has continued his top form between the sticks as the Bengaluru FC goalkeeper. Sandhu, who has ascertained his place in the Indian National Team was extremely crucial to Bengaluru's third straight qualification to the Indian Super League playoffs. The Chandigarh-born goalkeeper had a few hiccups in certain games while trying to save some low shots, but his overall excellence makes him the best goalkeeper of the league.
Sandhu has 10 clean-sheets in 17 games to his name, the most among all the goalkeepers in the league. Supplemented by a robust defence, the Bengaluru FC custodian pulled off 46 saves in 17 games, second only to NorthEast United FC's Subhasish Roy Chowdhary.
#9 Seriton Fernandes (FC Goa)
The young FC Goa right-back has certainly come off age in the previous few seasons in the Indian Super League. Seriton Fernandes has developed and grown under Sergio Lobera into a very mature defender.
With a pass accuracy of 81% and 87 tackles, Fernandes has worked as a resolute workhorse in the back for FC Goa. Fernandes with Mourtada Fall, Carlos Pena and Chinglensena Singh have been one of the reasons for FC Goa's resilience on the field complimented by the fierce goal-scoring rate and elegant team coordination.
#8 Lenny Rodrigues (FC Goa)
Lenny Rodrigues has been an instrumental yet underrated inclusion for FC Goa. The Goa-born defensive midfielder has been a towering and problematic presence for the opposition courtesy his excellent and timely interceptions to cut-off the opposition midfield.
Rodrigues also has played a key part in building up some of the many FC Goa goals with an 86% pass percentage. His defensive capabilities allowed Edu Bedia and Jackichand Singh to play their natural game which proved lethal as far as the FC Goa forwards were concerned in Ferran Corominas and Hugo Boumous.
#7 Rowllin Borges (Mumbai City FC)
With an uncanny resemblance to Lenny Rodrigues, Rowllin Borges has also been an integral yet unnoticed part of his side. Rowllin rose to prominence under Stephen Constantine for the National side with his disciplined defensive midfield duties and has been a consistent customer ever since.
Borges has exemplary intercepting abilities and a knack for going forward to help out the forwards as well. With the second-highest number of interceptions among Indians in the league and 2 assists, Borges was a midfield king-pin for The Islanders.
#6 Anirudh Thapa (Chennaiyin FC)
The Uttarakhand born youngster had been touted as the 'Next Big Thing' by the Indian football community when he made his national team debut in the year of 2017 under Stephen Constantine. Thapa has had his ups and downs, grooming into a very dependable player in the centre of the park eventually.
Thapa has been instrumental in the Chennaiyin midfield with the highest number of interceptions among Indians in the league. Thapa is yet to score in the season but has already assisted 5 of Chennaiyin's goals. With a good number of tackles and passes up the pitch, Thapa makes a versatile addition to any side.
#5 Jerry Mawihmingthanga (Odisha FC)
After two impressive seasons at Jamshedpur FC, the Mizoram-born lad was picked up by Odisha FC (rechristened from Delhi Dynamos FC) for the current season. Mawihmingthanga was a livewire on the left side for the Tata-Steel owned side for the last two seasons, making him a menace for the opposition wingbacks to deal with.
Mawwihmingthanga continued his form into his new side as he scored twice and assisted 5 goals in the 17 games he played making him one of the most affluent Indian names of this season.
#4 Brandon Fernandes (FC Goa)
Brandon Fernandes was on top-form throughout the entirety of the league stage for the Gaurs. With two goals and six assists, Fernandes along with Hugo Boumous, Edu Bedia and Jackichand Singh have been a dominant force for the Gaurs. Ferran Corominas has been scoring at tandem with Hugo Boumous due to a very expeditious midfield behind them.
#3 Jerry Lalrinzuala (Chennaiyin FC)
After a slow start marred by lack of goals, an average midfield and permeable defence, Chennaiyin FC have turned the tables on like the 2015 edition of the tournament and have qualified for the knock-outs under Owen Coyle.
The team suddenly performed after the dismissal of John Gregory and so did Lallianzuala Chhangte. Chhangte has scored five goals for the two-times champions, making him one of the highest Indian goal-scorers of the season, only behind Jackichand Singh and Sunil Chhetri.
#2 Jackichand Singh (FC Goa)
Complimenting Brandon Fernandes in the middle of the park, Jackichand Singh had a tremendous tournament with his lively presence in the right flank. Jackichand Singh was able to stretch the opposition defence with his diagonal runs and pinpoint crosses.
The Manipur-born forward has scored five goals and assisted three in the league stage. FC Goa could span themselves upfront only due to a very creative midfield to extract support from led by Jackichand Singh.
#1 Sunil Chhetri (Bengaluru FC)
Bengaluru FC could never recover from their lack of quality forwards up the pitch after the departure of Miku. The lack of foreign names upfront prompted the Indian-trio of Udanta Singh, Ashique Kuruniyan and Sunil Chhetri to take charge of the scoring department. The Bengaluru FC and Indian captain scored nine goals in 15 games, a feat enough to adjudge him as the best Indian forward of the current season.
