ISL 2018-19: 5 Key Players for Bengaluru FC This Season

#1 Sunil Chhetri (Forward)

Sunil Chhetri [Image: ISL]

It was hard to imagine that at the age of 33, Sunil Chhetri was still the best player in the Indian Super League last season. Although he finished behind Ferran Corominas (FC Goa) and teammate Miku in the goalscoring charts, there was no question that the Indian skipper was by far the star of the tournament.

Chhetri proved that he was one of the fittest players in the league; he played all 21 matches for the Blues (18 league fixtures, two semi-final legs, and the final). Leading from the front, Chhetri scored 14 goals and had two assists.

Playing on the left of a front three, Chhetri formed a partnership with Miku to form a fearsome duo that scored a combined 29 goals. Miku's movement and Udanta Singh's ability to switch flanks helped immensely and Chhetri profited from this telepathic movement that became seamless as the season wore on.

But even when things weren't going their way, it was Chhetri who would grab the game by the scruff of the neck and provide a moment of brilliance that became the difference between going home with just a point or all three.

With the arrival of Bhutanese international Chencho Gyeltshen, there is now competition on the wing. But this is something that will only push Chhetri to train harder as he is one player who will not take his spot for granted - even if he wears the captain's armband.