The time has come for the Indian Super League (ISL) clubs to begin their preparations for the fourth edition of the tournament. Amid reports of Atletico de Kolkata appointing former Manchester United star Teddy Sheringham as their head coach, the deadline day for the retaining of Indian players, widely reported to be 7th July, passed us by.
Those players who were not retained will now be selected from the draft which is to be held on 23rd July.
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With the cap set at retention of only two Indian players, most of the teams went for the jugular and paid astronomical figures to retain their star players. The most noteworthy would be goalkeepers Debjit Majumder and Amrinder Singh who were retained by Atletico de Kolkata and Mumbai City FC respectively. However, a number of prolific players could not be retained by the sides due to the existing rules of the tournament.
We take a look at the top Indian players who will be eligible for selection in the upcoming draft to be held later this month.
#1 Pritam Kotal
The Mohun Bagan full-back has not been retained by the Atletico de Kolkata management for the upcoming season of the ISL. If we take a look at the past performances of the 23-year-old, a remarkable stat reveals the exact significance of the player. Having played 1952 minutes in the ISL, Kotal has the ability to slot in consistent performances over a long period of time.
The ISL's changing face next season will also require players to be resilient in terms of stamina and mettle. With it being a five-month tournament and the proposed Super Cup and AFC competitions to follow, the most relentless one will be able to come out on top of the same. On that regard, Kotal seems to be the perfect choice for the interested franchises as he looks set to hit top gear in the forthcoming season of the tournament.
#2 Anas Edathodika
In a shocking move, the Delhi Dynamos did not wish to retain any Indian player for next season. As a result, their prolific defender Anas Edathodika, who played for Mohun Bagan in the 2017 I-League, will be up for grabs in the draft.
This move from the Dynamos was quite surprising as their Indian duo of Anas and Souvik Chakrabarti were widely expected to be retained. However, since the above did not materialise, the 30-year-old will be a big draw in the draft. His sturdy presence and composure at the back make him a tough opponent for opposition attackers.
Having made 25 appearances in previous editions of the ISL, the 30-year-old looks to be in the prime of his career and will attract a lot of in the domestic draft. His ability to also contribute effectively in attack adds that extra edge to his style of play. Furthermore, Anas was recently awarded the best footballer of the year by the Football Players’ Association of India. Besides, he also won the award for the best defender of the I-League last season, making him one of the most sought-after Indian players.
#3 Mehtab Hossain
After announcing before the beginning of the I-League last season that he will not play for East Bengal if the club failed to win the league, Mehtab is now all set to ply his trade in the ISL after the Red and Golds came up short in the I-League title race. Previously a part of the Kerala Blasters and a favourite of their former coach, Trevor James Morgan, Mehtab is a veteran of the Indian football arena.
Having played for both Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, the two top clubs of India, Mehtab knows what it takes to perform at the highest level. His terrier-like presence in midfield impedes the opposition from building up attacks. Although diminutive in structure, the midfielder has a big heart and does not leave an inch of space for his adversaries.
The defensive midfielder has played 38 times for Kerala Blasters in the ISL and managed to find the back of the net twice. Goalscoring is not a forte of this man from Madhyamgram who was once known as the Claude Makelele of Indian football. Now, at 31 years of age, Mehtab will be itching to prove his worth in the refurbished format of the tournament.
#4 Eugeneson Lyngdoh
It was widely expected that the 30-year-old midfielder will be retained by FC Pune City but instead, they chose to retain their goalkeeper Vishal Kaith. The Indian international will, therefore, be another hotly-contested name in the draft selection process.
Lyngdoh played for the Orange-Purples only thrice in the last ISL season and scored once. However, the Shillong-born man is best associated with an incisive pass, slicing through the opposition defence and setting up the strikers to score. That aside, the midfielder also prefers to take a potshot at the goal with his right footed whenever the opportunity arises.
The box-to-box midfielder has been a rare find in the Indian football scenario in current times. Lyngdoh has managed to don that midfield role seamlessly for the Indian national side as well as Bengaluru FC in recent years. Therefore, it will not be a surprise if the teams engage in a fierce battle to land the Meghalaya man on their side in the upcoming draft.
#5 Robin Singh
The tall striker, who last played for East Bengal in the I-League, has not been retained so far although new entrants Tata Steel seemed interested in signing the former Tata Football Academy graduate for their new side.
With five goals in the I-League campaign, Robin's eye for goal is among the best in the country. His imposing presence makes him a threat while his sturdy build helps him hold the ball well in attack, thereby keeping possession and allowing other players to come into the game.
Robin may not possess exquisite dribbling skills but he has the temperament to make it big when his team requires. He played for FC Goa in last year’s ISL and scored four goals for the Gaurs.
