ISL 2017: 5 Indian prodigies who played abroad and where they are now

Ashique Kuruniyan

Ashique Kuruniyan

In a rather inspiring story of Indian football, Ashique Kuruniyan, who used to work in a sugarcane field earning only Rs 80 per month, had shot to fame after he landed a trial with ISL side FC Pune City. Kuruniyan went on to take a step further, as he landed a loan deal with Spanish side Villarreal FC’s ‘C’ side.

However, a hamstring injury meant that he had to return to Pune, where he has been trying to break into the first team this season. While he is yet to achieve that, Ashique did take his baby steps on his comeback trail from the injury, as he was brought on as a substitute in FC Pune City’s 3-1 home loss at the hands of Bengaluru FC.