The Indian Super League (ISL) has been a hotbed of talented players from across countries since its inception in 2014. Several startling youngsters have risen the ranks and made and carved an impact with their exploits on the field. Whilst certain players have had impactful spells in the competition, a few others have had influence on a more consistent basis, securing success in various phases of the ISL. Here, we look at the top-10 defenders to have graced the league thus far.
- Sandesh Jhingan
The ISL’s inaugural Emerging Player of the Season has also been arguably its best discovery so far. Sandesh Jhingan has helped his team keep 44 clean sheets in his 139 appearances. He has made 32 passes per game at 73% accuracy, making 3.74 recoveries, winning 5.1 duels per game, and has never seen a red card shown to him.
- Tiri
The Mumbai City FC midfielder has played for ATK, Jamshedpur FC, ATK Mohun Bagan, and now the Islanders. He has averaged 42 passes per game at 75% accuracy, winning the ISL title twice, and his sheer consistency throughout the years deserves applause.
- Mourtada Fall
Mourtada Fall has played for FC Goa, Mumbai City FC, and Odisha FC, being Sergio Lobera’s trusted lieutenant throughout. The towering defender has scored 21 goals, having won the ISL League Shield thrice and the ISL Cup once.
- Lucian Goian
ISL old-timers will fondly recollect Lucian Goian, who used to play for Mumbai City FC, and then returned to their home turf to score the winning goal for Chennaiyin FC and crash the Islanders out of the tournament in their final league stage game of 2019-20. Goian helped his team keep 24 clean sheets in 70 appearances, making five clearances per game and scoring as many goals throughout his ISL career, mainly thanks to his aerial prowess.
- Subhasish Bose
The Mohun Bagan Super Giant skipper has been one of the standout Indian players overall in the ISL. He has kept 51 clean sheets in 146 games, making 36 passes per match at 75% accuracy. Bose has made 4.55 recoveries and won 5.86 duels per match in his career in the competition.
- Rahul Bheke
Rahul Bheke has made 154 appearances in the ISL, helping his team keep a clean sheet in nearly one-third of them, i.e. 51. With 83% passing accuracy, he has ensured his sides build up the play well from the back. Bheke has also struck eight goals and notched six assists, scoring the all-important championship-winning strike for the Blues in 2018-19.
- Pritam Kotal
Much like Bheke, Pritam Kotal too has been one of the more consistent Indian defenders in the ISL. He has won 152 tackles and made 434 clearances in total, winning the ISL title thrice and graduating to become an integral member of the national team too.
- Adil Khan
Adil Khan was a seasoned player in the ISL, with his strong built and exceptional ability to commit into challenges making him a warhorse at the back. In 80 appearances, he won 1.5 tackles per game and scored six goals, often shuffling between the midfield and the backline whenever needed.
- Chinglensana Singh
The Bengaluru FC defender has been one of the finds of the ISL, making his mark as one of the formidable ball-playing players in the league. He helped Hyderabad FC win the ISL Cup in 2021-22 and has become one of the most promising young talents who can become a face of the league in the years to come.
- Juanan
Juanan was one of the modern-day defenders who lit up the ISL with his tremendous skills on the ball. He made 92 appearances, kept 26 clean sheets, scored five goals, assisted four times, and brought about an air of stability in the Bengaluru FC defence that most teams desire, always.
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