Super Cup 2023: Top 10 players to watch out for

The qualifying rounds of the tournament start on the 3rd of April.

After the conclusion of the ISL and the Tri Nation friendly tournament, it is now time to focus our attention on the upcoming Hero Super Cup, which is an inter-league knockout tournament played between teams from the Hero Indian Super League and the Hero I-League.

The tournament is being organised after a gap of 4 years, with the latest edition being played in 2019, where FC Goa was crowned champions. Also, the champions of this event will play an additional play-off against Gokulam Kerala, the champions of the 2021–22 I-League for a place in the group stage of the 2023–24 AFC Cup, making this the very first time that the Super Cup champions will have a chance to participate in an AFC competition.

The majority of the teams will field their main team, as all the clubs want to put their hands on that glittering piece of silverware and earn a date with Gokulam for the AFC spot. With talent and flair filled in all these teams, the tournament will undoubtedly be very competitive and interesting to watch.

So here is a list of the top 10 players to watch out for in the 2023 Hero Super Cup.

10. Dimi Petratos (ATK Mohun Bagan)

ATK Mohun Bagan’s main man Dimitri Petratos was probably the biggest and most important part of Juan Ferrando’s ISL title-winning side. The Australian linchpin was a beast in the front throughout the season and was also ATK’s hero in the final against Bengaluru. His nine goals and seven assists in the campaign were another testimony of the striker's significance in this ATK team, and his contribution will be crucial for the Mariners in the Super Cup as well.

9. Alisher Kholmurodov (NEUFC)

Northeast United FC’s latest recruit Alisher Kholmurodov, is very well known for his versatility across the backline and can play as a centre-back, a full-back as well as a  central defensive midfielder. The player has previously played for three different clubs in Tajikistan's top division. Alisher’s 6’2 stature will also help him in aerial duels, and the player can prove to be an important inclusion in a defensively struggling Northeast United FC.

8. Diego Mauricio (Odisha FC)

Diego Mauricio, the golden boot winner of the Indian Super League 2022-23 is the heart of Odisha’s attack and has very much single-handedly brought about much glory to the club this season. The Brazilian scored 12 goals and had four assists in 20 league games, and it was his heroics throughout the season that helped his team reach the playoffs for the very first time. 

7. Luka Majcen (Roundglass Punjab FC)

Luka was the winner of the player of the tournament award, as well as the golden boot award, following a sensational league campaign that saw his team winning the I League, and earning promotion to the Indian Super League. Luka scored 16 goals this season in the I League and was one of the most lethal attacking players in the competition. With the Slovenian being in the form of his life, he would very well want to put on a show in the Super Cup and is a player to watch out for.

6. Cleiton Silva (East Bengal FC)

Cleiton Silva was another top performer from last season. Despite his team’s poor performance throughout the league, Cleiton was the only bright spark in the Red and Yellow Brigade’s camp. He scored the joint-highest 12 goals in the campaign and also provided one assist. Despite the mishaps in the league campaign, it will be interesting to see what East Bengal and their main man Cleiton Silva do in the Super Cup. 

5. Sunil Chhetri (Bengaluru FC)

Captain, Leader, and Legend Sunil Chhetri was very unfortunate to have not won the ISL title, after putting on such an impressive performance throughout the season. Although Sunil rarely started any games and mainly came on as a substitute, the player’s contributions were incomparable, and he turned up for his team in absolutely crucial moments, including the winner against Kerala in the knockout game, and the semi-final header against Mumbai. Now, with Sivasakhti set to miss the tournament due to an injury, it is very likely that we will get to see Sunil play for Bengaluru, and as always a lot will be expected from the veteran.

4. Dimitris Diamantakos (Kerala Blasters FC)

After a very strange and disappointing end to their impressive ISL campaign, Kerela Blasters would be determined to make a strong comeback in the Super Cup, and they will be very much relying on their Greek star Diamantakos. The striker was on red-hot form in the ISL and was Kerala's top scorer with 10 goals. His incredible technical abilities also made him difficult to deal with. Also, now in the absence of Adrian Luna, Diamantakos will have a huge responsibility on his shoulders to bring about glory to his club in the Super Cup.

3. Juan David Castañeda (Sreenidhi Deccan)

Juan David Castaneda plays as a striker for Sreenidhi Deccan and is a very dangerous player that needs to be watched out for by all the opposition clubs. The player has filthy numbers in the I League this season, and he has the highest goal contributions in the entire league, with 15 goals and six assists to his name. The Colombian is the perfect example of a pure South American attacker and has a lot of skill and flair to his game.

2. Lallianzuala Chhangte (Mumbai City FC)

After enjoying his best-ever season as a professional footballer, and winning the ISL shield as well as the ISL golden ball award, Chhangte is all set to make his presence felt in the super cup as well, and all the clubs should be very much aware of the danger the player can pose. The winger scored 10 goals and had six assists last season, and is the most lethal and in-form Indian player at the moment.

1. Aminou Bouba (Gokulam Kerala FC)

Aminou Bouba was the winner of the defender of the tournament award from this season’s I League campaign. The daunting 6 feet 3-inch centre-back posed a strong challenge to any team’s attack and was rock solid in the back for his club. His partnership in the backline with Subhankar Adhikari is amongst the best in Indian Club football, and the Cameroonian beast will be a tough challenge for any team.