With only the play-offs of the Indian Super League 2020-21 remaining, it is safe to say that, despite the COVID-19-related challenges, the tournament has lived up to the expectations. Be it the quality of players and football on the pitch or the conditions or the facilities and infrastructure, the ISL 2020-21 has been a delight.
Though the absence of fans in the stadium and questionable standards of refereeing, especially in the initial part of the tournament, have taken some of the sheen off the tournament, what has been particularly encouraging is the rise of some young Indian players. There have been quite a few impressive young bloods over the years in the ISL, but what sets this season apart is how these talented youngsters have grown in confidence and are staking their claim for a place in the playing XI in almost all the 11 clubs.
Expectedly, when India football team coach Igor Stimac recently announced 35 probables for the upcoming friendlies against the UAE and Oman, a few of them managed to find a place in the list. And these players know that those who missed out narrowly, would be snapping at their heels.
With senior pros like Sunil Chhetri in the twilight of their careers, it's a healthy competition to have for a team in transition like India.
Here's a look at the promising five.
Akash Mishra (Hyderabad FC)
That this 19-year-old played every minute of ISL 2020-21 till his team, Hyderabad FC, was knocked out of the play-off race by FC Goa on the last day of the league stage, is proof enough of his value to the club. Hyderabad FC head coach Manolo Marquez was at his prophetic best when he declared, soon after their first match this season, that Mishra would go on to become the best left-back in India. Nineteen matches later, the Uttar Pradesh lad, who is ranked second for tackles (80) for defenders, second for interceptions (55) and has effected 48 clearances and 37 blocks, is well on his way to prove his coach right. His consistent performances have already earned him a maiden national call-up. Mishra is technically superior to several of his peers, and has a great positional sense and reading of the game. He is good with his pinpoint crosses from the left and also has the confidence to go for the goal at the right moment. Three years of training in Germany seems to have done him a world of good. Despite Hyderabad FC failing to qualify for the play-offs, Mishra is, arguably, the frontrunner for the Emerging Player of the Year award this ISL season.
Lalengmawia Ralte (NorthEast United)
Popularly known as Apuia, this 20-year-old from Mizoram is perhaps the only player who can give Mishra a run for his money as far as the Emerging Player of the Year award this season is concerned. The midfielder has played a stellar role in guiding the NorthEast United FC to the play-offs this season. Such is the faith the team has in this youngster, that he was handed the captain's armband in the match against FC Goa in December, making him the youngest skipper in ISL history. Both former NEUFC manager Gerard Nus and current interim coach Khalid Jamil, who replaced Nus, hold Apuia in high esteem. With a high passing accuracy of 75.38 per cent and 42 interceptions, the Mizo lad is an asset to the team. Also, despite 90 tackles and 27 fouls, Apuia has only one yellow card in 20 matches, which further points to a footballer in control of his craft. Apuia is nothing short of a hero already in his home state, having become the only player from Mizoram to make it to the Indian U-17 World Cup squad in 2017. He played for Indian Arrows in I-League before joining the NEUFC last season. Rest, as they say, is history.
Suresh Wangjam (Bengaluru FC)
Wangjam is another prodigy from the India U-17 World Cup squad who is making waves at the senior level. The 20-year-old from Manipur played for Indian Arrows before moving to Bengaluru FC last season. He was a revelation despite the presence of senior players in the Bengaluru side. The AIFF Elite Academy graduate picked up from where he left last season. With his seemingly never-ending stamina and pace, and a high passing accuracy of 72.42 per cent, Wangjam was a livewire in the midfield and was one of the few bright points in an otherwise dull campaign for Bengaluru FC this season. That the youngster managed to make a name for himself among experienced midfield campaigners like Harmanjot Khabra, Erik Paartalu and Dimas Delgado, speaks volumes of the talent Wangjam posseses. No wonder that the youngster has made it to the probables list for India's friendlies against Oman and the UAE.
Ashish Rai (Hyderabad FC)
Along with Akash Mishra, Ashish Rai has been a revelation in defence for Hyderabad FC. The 22-year-old from Sikkim was their workhorse, defending with doggedness and delivering quality crosses from the right. He was an integral part of the team last season, too, having come through the ranks at the FC Pune City Academy, and then the Indian Arrows. With two assists and a whopping 1,161 touches, 771 passes and 47 crosses, Rai has been an asset in building an attack. He has been equally adept in defence, with 75 tackles and 51 interceptions (the fourth highest this season), and picking up only a single yellow card. Rai was forced to miss the fag end of this season because of a knee injury, but coach Marquez assured everyone that he will be back in training in a month. In fact, it was the injury that kept him out of national football team coach Igor Stimac's list of probables.
Hyderabad FC's Liston Colaco (centre, in yellow) and Ashish Rai in action against Jamshedpur FC | PTI
Liston Colaco (Hyderabad FC)
No other ISL team (except NorthEast United, probably) has promoted Indian youngsters the way Hyderabad FC have, this season. So, it's not surprising that Stimac has included six of their players in his probables list. In fact, the Indian players form the backbone of the Nizams, unlike most of the other ISL clubs. Akash Mishra, Ashish Rai, Hitesh Sharma, Mohammed Yasir, Chinglensana Singh... the list is long and promising. One exciting prospect in that list is Liston Colaco. The Goan midfielder has impressed everybody with his skills, creativity and natural flair. His confidence in front of the goal belies his age. Colaco's brace against NorthEast United in the 4-2 win in January was a wake-up call for those who thought he was just a flash in the pan. The 22-year-old finished as the top scorer in the 2016-17 Goa Professional League, helping Salgaocar FC to the title. He was picked up by FC Goa but failed to get much match-time. His move to Hyderabad FC in the second half of the 2019-20 season proved to be the turning point. With two goals and three assists, his numbers may not seem much, but his contributions to the team coming on as substitute have been brilliant. Though he prefers left-wing, Hyderabad have used him in all positions in the midfield and also as a forward. Such is his versatility.
