The football season in the country has begun with the commencement of the 11th season of the Indian Super League (ISL) in September this year. Whilst a battery of international superstars will grace the various leagues in the country with their skill sets, a close eye will also be laid on the up and coming domestic talents across these competitions. On that note, here’s a brief overview of the six prodigies to watch out for in Indian football in 2024-25.
1. Parthib Gogoi (NorthEast United FC)
The 21-year-old forward burst into the scene last year by recording nine goal contributions for NorthEast United FC. He scored a penalty in the shootout of the Durand Cup final against Mohun Bagan Super Giant, helping the Highlanders clinch the first silverware in club’s history.
With the Juan Pedro Benali-coached side pushing for a playoffs qualification this season, Gogoi will be instrumental to their success in the ISL.
2. Franklin Nazareth (Mumbai City FC)
The Mumbai City FC midfield has seen a bit of a churn off late with the departures of Ahmed Jahouh, Alberto Noguera, and Lalengmawia Ralte.
They would want Franklin Nazareth, whom they acquired from the Reliance Foundation Young Champs (RFYC) in 2023, to step into the big shoes and the 20-year-old defensive midfielder has already appeared in all of their three games before the first international break of the campaign.
3. Vinith Venkatesh (Bengaluru FC)
The Bengaluru FC academy graduate has scored and assisted once each in four ISL appearances this season. He has been a livewire on the field and has immediately settled to become a key member of Gerard Zaragoza’s unit. His 75% passing accuracy and 13 victorious duels show that the 19-year-old is both industrious as well as precise in his approach on the field.
4. Abdul Rabeeh (Hyderabad FC)
The young Hyderabad FC setup has resulted in forward Abdul Rabeeh getting plenty of playing time lately. Forwards are often starved of adequate minutes on the field in the ISL, but Hyderabad FC’s persistence with the 23-year-old upfront could reap them rich dividends in the future.
5. Vibin Mohanan (Kerala Blasters FC)
The Kerala Blasters FC midfielder has locked in 300 minutes in four appearances in ISL 2024-25. Vibin Mohanan, 21, has been a powerhouse at the centre of the park, driving attacks forward, shielding the defensive line, and making the right moves to help the whole team click. If he keeps up the consistent outings, then a national team elevation could be around the corner.
6. Sharon Padattil (Inter Kashi)
The former Bengaluru FC goalkeeper will be plying his trade for Inter Kashi in the I-League. He has a commanding presence between the posts and is an excellent distributor of the ball, in addition to having sharp reflexes.
Whilst opportunities might have been difficult to come his way at the Blues due to the presence of Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Sharon will want to make his chances count in the I-League this year.
7. Sachin Jha (Rajasthan United FC)
Sachin Jha previously played for Sudeva Delhi FC and is currently employed with Rajasthan United FC. The goalkeeper kept three clean sheets in I-League 2023-24, and will be looking forward to locking in impressive outings to make the move up to the ISL as well.
