The four best domestic players to watch out for at the Indian Super League

By Arjun Krishnan The Indian Super League is upon us. While the stand-out feature of the tournament is the unprecedented involvement of globally renowned footballers such as Robert Pires and Alessandro Del Piero, fans must not forget that this venture was launched solely for the development of Indian football. In view of this, the following are four of the best Indian players in the ISL. Syed Rahim Nabi (Age: 28) - Mumbai City FC A product of Tata football academy, Nabi is among the best footballers the nation has produced since the turn of the millennium. His first club was Mohammedan Sporting after which he played for both the Bengal clubs — Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. He returned to Mohammedan Sporting last season after being signed on loan from IMG-Reliance. Nabi has made close to 300 appearances for club and country, having scored a total of almost 50 goals. Achievements: Nabi is one of the more successful Indian footballers of this generation. For the National team, he’s won three Nehru Cup titles, one AFC Challenge Cup (2008) and the SAFF Championship (2011). On the domestic front he has won several major trophies like the Federation Cup and the Super Cup. The I-League has consistently evaded him. [caption id=“attachment_1753355” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Subrata Paul in action for India. AFP[/caption] Style of Play: Nabi is the personification of versatility in Indian football. Having started out as a striker, he has played out wide, in the center and the left back positions with equal aplomb. His knack of scoring goals despite being deployed as a full back, combined with his excellent work rate and winning mentality will bring out the best in him. Gouramangi Singh (Age: 28) - Chennaiyin FC Another product of India’s famed Tata Football Academy, Gouramangi Singh has plied his trade with many clubs in the I-League, including Dempo SC and Churchill Brothers. With a combined total of close to 300 career appearances (including 88 caps for India), he is a seasoned pro. Achievements: For India, Gouramangi has two SAFF Championships, one AFC Challenge Cup and two Nehru Cups under his belt. In club level football, the Manipuri has won pretty much everything on offer: the National Football League, the Federation Cup and the I-League. In 2010, the year he was named AIFF’s Footballer of the year, he was called for a trial by Melbourne Heart in Australia’s A-League, which proved unsuccessful. Style of Play: As one of the tallest players in the Indian national team, Gouramangi’s ability to head the ball out of dangerous situations, coupled with his skill in tackling places him among some of the best Indian defenders of all time. Being the most capped Indian footballer in the tournament, Gouramangi Singh’s experience and knowledge of the domestic conditions will play a crucial role in shaping Chennaiyin FC’s fortunes. Mehtab Hossain (Age: 33) - Kerala Blasters Mehtab Hossain plays for East Bengal FC in the I-League. The defensive midfielder has represented the Kolkata giants 88 times since 2007 and is also a regular in the national set up with 28 international caps to his name. Achievements: Mehtab’s first significant honour was winning the Federation Cup with Mohun Bagan in 2006. A year later, he moved to their fierce rivals East Bengal FC, where he bagged title after title. These included four Federation Cups, one Indian Super Cup and one IFA shield among others. Style of Play: Hossain is the anchor-man in midfield, as he has proved successfully for both club and country. He is dubbed by his fans as the Claude Makelele of Indian football for his ability to break up opposition attacks with his fearless tackling ability and an unending commitment on the pitch. Mehtab is expected to assume a similar role in the Kerala Blasters setup. Subrata Pal (age: 27) - Mumbai City FC Subrata Pal is India’s No. 1 goalkeeper and has been for a while now. The shot-stopper from Bengal has played for some of the best clubs in India, including Mohun Bagan and East Bengal. He has over 100 appearances at the club level and has represented India on 65 occasions. Achievements: Voted as the best goalkeeper in the I-League in 2007 due to his match-winning performances for East Bengal FC, Subrata has won two Nehru Cups and one AFC Challenge Cup for the national side. He also won the Federation Cup in 2007. He was signed by FC Vestsjaelland in the Danish Superliga earlier in the year, thereby becoming only the 5th Indian player to play abroad, and the 1st Indian goalkeeper to do so. Style of Play: He was dubbed as the ‘Indian Spiderman’ by South Korean media after India’s exit from the 2011 Asian Games, where he made 35 saves in total, including 16 saves in one match. His athleticism, commitment, and reflexes have led him to be India’s best goalkeeper currently, and among the best in the Indian Super League. His presence in goal will be a huge boost for Mumbai City FC.