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To say that the Indian Super League (ISL) has been beneficial to Indian football would be an understatement. The kind of talent that has been unearthed so far has been nothing short of phenomenal.
The likes of Sandesh Jhingan, Anirudh Thapa and several others have gone on to make their mark on the Indian team, courtesy of their discoveries in the ISL.
The upcoming edition of the tournament is set to be a defining one. Not just in the narrative of Indian football as we know it, but also in what many are calling the ‘new normal’.
While the tournament is set to be played behind closed doors, eyeballs will be focused on a few players who could make an impact in the league. That said, let’s take a look at a few players who could impress in the 2020/21 edition of the ISL.
1) Pratik Chaudhuri (Bengaluru FC)
In recent times, the Bengaluru FC defensive unit has taken somewhat of a beating. The previous season witnessed a few issues in the backline with veteran Albert Serran being dropped and Rahul Bheke moving into a rather unusual center-back position.
While this worked for a while, the cracks began to show, leading to the Blues' ouster in the semifinal against ATK.
The signing of Pratik Chaudhuri from Mumbai City FC is a show of intent from Carles Cuadrat. Having played in the ISL for a bevvy of clubs over the years, the 30-year-old brings in much-needed experience in the backline for the Blues.
He will be expected to partner with Juanan at center-back with Rahul Bheke moving back to his preferred right-back position. It remains to be seen whether Chaudhuri can live up to the expectations placed upon him this ISseason.
2) Anirudh Thapa (Chennaiyin FC)
Among the youngsters who play in the ISL, not many have shown the promise 22-year old Anirudh Thapa has shown.
Having made a name for himself with Chennaiyin FC, Thapa earned a call-up to the Indian national team a few months prior to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, thus establishing his credentials as a midfield stalwart.
With the ability to play across all positions in midfield, Thapa will be expected to provide leadership in the middle of the park, something that has been lacking in recent times. Another thing that will be expected from him are goals, something he has not managed to do in the recent past.
3) CK Vineeth (East Bengal)
At one point, CK Vineeth was the fastest player in the ISL. His electric speed and knack of finding the back of the net made him somewhat of a fan-favorite.
However, with injuries and having dropped a few yards of pace courtesy of age, Vineeth is clearly not the player that he once was.
Despite not having the best of outings for Chennaiyin and Jamshedpur FC, all eyes will be on the 32-year old winger as he dons the East Bengal shirt for the upcoming season.
Should he manage to stay injury free, Vineeth could very well be a player who ensures a good table finish for East Bengal in their first ever season in the ISL.
4) Nishu Kumar (Kerala Blasters)
Nishu Kumar spells consistency at left-back. At the tender age of 18, Nishu became a regular for Bengaluru FC and has since become an important part of the national set up as well.
Following a fairly lengthy spell with the Blues, Nishu will now suit up for the Kerala Blasters this ISL season. With the Blasters having lost out on Sandesh Jhingan, the 22-year-old becomes a rather important part of the outfit.
Having signed a four-year deal with the club, Nishu has now become the highest paid defender in the ISL, surpassing Jhingan himself. His abilities on the ball coupled with his paycheck make him a player to watch out for.
5) Pronay Halder (ATK Mohun Bagan)
While Pronay Halder may not exactly be the most talented of the lot, his industrious nature on the playing field is something that demands excellence.
Under Steve Coppell, Halder had become the first choice in midfield which helped the 27-year-old cement a first-team place in the national side as well.
In most of the teams he plays, Halder is the quintessential midfield lynchpin. His tremendous work rate and ability to show up in big games will be counted upon this upcoming ISL season.
