Top three players who are the "next big thing" in Indian football

These footballers defy age and are examples of India’s rapidly growing infrastructure and focus on promising youth talents

Since India’s participation at the FIFA U17 World Cup in the country back in 2017, football has been on an upward growth curve. Moreover, the focus has been shifted more towards developing homegrown talents. The Indian Super League has also benefited more from these indigenous prodigies than from imports like earlier.

Players like Lallianzuala Chhangte, Akash Mishra, Vikram Partap Singh, and Mahesh Singh have been notably good. Not only for their league sides but also while donning the blue of India in competitions like the Hero Intercontinental Cup and SAFF Championship 2023.

Most of you would be surprised if I told you that there is also someone who has bettered Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s record of being the inaugural Indian in a European qualifier match. Especially with the recently concluded AFC U17 Cup, India had multiple eye-openers regarding the factory of talent it has at its disposal.

With that, let us now take a look at the top three players who are the next big thing in Indian football:

Sahil Poonia

India’s AFC U17 campaign was limited to just the group stages in the 2023 edition but managed to have some positive turnovers. Sahil Poonia was one of those bright spots between the sticks for India at the competition. He was India’s saviour against Vietnam and Uzbekistan. His exemplary reaction time made it hard for the sides to breach India’s goal, and only some extraordinary strikes were able to do so.

In the Blue Colts’ hardest game against Japan, the shot-stopper saved a penalty, which was a personal highlight. Additionally, he was bestowed with the honour of the best goalkeeper award after winning his inaugural national-level tournament, the SAFF U17 Championship 2023. Sahil Poonia’s record in that competition was even better, as he kept two vital clean sheets, including one in the final against Nepal, on the way to the trophy.

He is well on his way to developing himself as a reliable keeper and donning the gloves for one of India’s top clubs soon. Said teams are monitoring his growth in a vigilant manner and may snap him up any day now.

Som Kumar

Som Kumar is the record-breaking Indian player we were talking about earlier. At just 18 years old, he is all set to make history as the first Indian in a Champions League qualifier for NK Olimpija Ljubljana. At the tender age of 13, he embarked on a remarkable journey during a U15 summer tournament in Italy. Starting as the fourth goalkeeper for India, his exceptional talent propelled him to the number one spot just before the AFC U17 qualifiers.

Outstanding performances for the U17 team led to a call-up to the U20 National team in 2022, despite being the youngest player on the roster. Rising to the occasion, he displayed his mettle, contributing to India’s triumph and achieving the remarkable feat of winning the best Goalkeeper award in the SAFF U20 Championship in 2022, becoming the youngest-ever recipient. When an Indian Super League club offered him a place on their first team, he actually chose to continue his journey in Slovenia, determined to make his mark in top-flight European football.

In 2021, he scaled further heights by joining the U17 team of NK Krka, a newly promoted club in the top division of Slovenian football. Despite initial doubts about the team’s ability to compete, Kumar’s significant contributions proved instrumental, as they exceeded expectations and secured an impressive third-place finish in the league.

Recognising his talent, NK Olimpija Ljubljana (NKOL) offered him a mid-season transfer in February 2023, signing him as the third-choice goalkeeper for the U19 squad. Currently training under renowned goalkeeper coach Andrej Kračman in Slovenia, who has nurtured talents like Jan Oblak and Samir Handanović, Kumar is arguably one of India’s biggest talents so far. 

Danny Meitei

The exciting wide midfielder was one of the best performers for the Blue Colts at the 2023 AFC U17 Asian Cup. Danny Meitei scored one of the four goals for India against Japan and gave the country a sliver of hope of making a comeback. He also caused one of Japan’s players to inadvertently direct the ball into his own net with his cross from the right side of the box.

It accordingly states how he’s part of the new breed of Indian attackers that press from the front. While the Sudeva Delhi youngster can play across a variety of positions and fulfil an equally varied number of responsibilities, he thrives in a central role. His wing play, however, is ravishing given his pace, ball control, and dribbling finesse. A flamboyant finisher from tight angles (as seen against Japan), Danny has a number of suitors in the league already.

Whether he chooses to continue his development at the I-League side or decides to go for better training facilities and better exposure at the ISL side remains to be seen. Danny still has plenty to achieve, but given his portfolio and growth, he is on track to be one of Indian football’s next big things.