ISL 2017: 5 best defenders to watch out for

The fifth edition of the Indian Super League (ISL) is all set to commence in Kerala later this month as a bigger and expanded tournament stretching up to a duration of almost four months.

In this competitive environment, while the limelight will be focussed on the goal-scorers, the real differentiator will prove to be the backline for most teams. The defenders, who stand tall and repel the opposition, will have a final say in the ultimate outcomes of the fixtures.

In this context, we look at the best 5 defenders one can keep an eye out for during the ISL 2017:

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#5 Andre Bikey (Jamshedpur FC)

The Cameroon international may not fall into the league of legends when it comes to English football per se, but he has surely established himself as a name to be remembered by the fans of the game. Having played for clubs like Reading, Burnley, Middlesbrough and Charlton Athletic in the past, the defender has vast amounts of experience.

Moreover, having played under the tutelage of Jamshedpur gaffer, Steve Coppell while at Reading, Andre will surely be a major force to reckon with in the league.

As far as his stints in Indian football are concerned, he has a substantial amount of experience and know-how of operating in the ISL, having played for North East United in 2015 and with FC Pune City in 2016.

#4 Bruno Pinheiro (FC Goa)

Bruno Pinheiro (Image courtesy: ISL)

Operating in the central line of defence for the Gaurs traditionally, one should not be surprised if Bruno suddenly transforms into a versatile midfielder through the course of the match as has been the case in the past.

His depth of knowledge when it comes to reading the nature of the game, as well as man marking skills, give the Portuguese as edge above the rest of the players in the league. He established himself as a fan favourite in his former stint with Goa during the first edition and will be looking to pick up from where he left off.

#3 Pritam Kotal (Delhi Dynamos)

Pritam Kotal

The star Indian defender commanded a hefty price for his services during the draft wherein he was picked up by the Delhi Dynamos a whopping 75 lakhs. A versatile defender who moulds himself according to the requirement of the team, Kotal is particularly lethal when operating as a right-back in the defence.

Bred in the hub of football, Kolkata with a former stint at Mohun Bagan, Kotal has developed into one of the gems of Indian football in the recent years and will surely be keen to impress with his new side, the Delhi Dynamos.

#2 Anas Edathodika (Jamshedpur FC)

Anas Edathodika

The 28-year old lad from Mallapuram in Kerala used to drive autos to support his football passion and today he has emerged as one of the most expensive players to be bought in the Indian Super League, fetching more than a crore from the new outfit, Jamshedpur FC.

A story of grit, passion and hard work, Anas has established himself as a wall in the defence of every team that he has played backed by some stellar outings on the field in the capacity of a centreback. Thus, he will be one of the key defenders to watch out for in this fifth season!

#1 Sandesh Jhingan (Kerala Blasters)

Sandesh Jhingan

Well, he is not just the highest-paid Indian defender in the league but is also the highest-scoring defender for the Indian team with four international goals. The tall defender has a plethora of skills and talent in his arsenal which has seen him help the Tuskers to make the cut to ISL finals on two instances in the past.

He is the first choice defender for the Indian national team and was even named as the caption for the Hero Tri-Nation Football series a couple of months ago. Thus, Sandesh who has donned the yellow jersey since the inaugural instalment of the ISL, will definitely go out all guns blazing in this edition to power his team to the coveted trophy.