Who features in Khel Now's ISL Team of the Year?

Some individuals were consistently brilliant in the top tier of Indian club football – ISL.

As the year 2023 reaches its conclusion, it presents a perfect opportunity to glance back at the football action that took place in the year gone by. The Indian Super League has to be the focus of the conversation if the best-performing players of the highest quality are concerned. The league sits at the top of the football league pyramid in India and houses the cream of the crop.

In the past year, domestic players went toe-to-toe with the foreigners in playing key roles and delivering memorable performances in the Indian Super League. Therefore, the value of having decent Indian players on the roster saw a meteoric rise in 2023. 

These individuals, combined with the exceptional foreign players, make for an outstanding ISL 2023 Team of the Year, comprising of young enthusiasm and invaluable experience at the same time:  

Formation – 4-1-2-1-2

Goalkeeper – Vishal Kaith (Mohun Bagan) 

Vishal Kaith played a key role in helping Mohun Bagan SG win the 2022-23 ISL title. He also finished the 2022-23 ISL season with 12 clean-sheets, winning the Golden Glove award.

His performances in the 2023-24 season have been properly good too, thus earning him a spot in the 2023 ISL Team of the Year.

Right-Back – Nikhil Poojary (Hyderabad FC)

Nikhil Poojary was crucial in helping Hyderabad FC secure playoff qualification at the end of the 2022-23 ISL regular season. The Nizams conceded only 16 goals in the 2022-23 ISL league stage, the fewest and defenders like Poojary deserve credit for that.

The full-back is one of the few consistent performers in the ongoing 2023-24 season as well in a squad bereft of key players from season before.

Centre-Back – Anwar Ali (FC Goa, Mohun Bagan)

Anwar Ali established himself as one of the best ball-playing centre-backs in 2023. His performances for Mohun Bagan SG were exceptional and the defender played a central role in winning the 2022-23 ISL title.

Even though he has been spending time on the sidelines towards the end of the year, Ali deserves a place in the 2023 ISL Team of the Year.

Centre-Back – Pritam Kotal (Mohun Bagan, Kerala Blasters)

Pritam Kotal captained Mohun Bagan SG to their first-ever Indian Super League triumph in 2023. The centre-back led by example and showed incredible resilience in motivating the team to go all the way.

He left the club to join Kerala Blasters ahead of the 2023-24 season and has been impressing the fans there too.

Left-Back – Akash Mishra (Hyderabad FC, Mumbai City)

Akash Mishra truly blossomed into a modern-day full-back in 2023, helped Hyderabad FC reach the 2022-23 ISL playoffs, moved to Mumbai City FC in a high-profile transfer, featured in the 2023-24 AFC Champions League and played for the Indian national team in major tournaments.

Central Midfielder – Ahmed Jahouh (Mumbai City, Odisha FC)

Ahmed Jahouh was instrumental for Mumbai City in helping them win the 2022-23 ISL League Winners’ Shield. Then, the midfielder moved to Odisha FC for the 2023-24 season to play under Sergio Lobera and helped the club navigate past the group stage of the 2023-24 AFC Cup. He is one of the most reliable playmakers in the league at the moment.

Right Winger – Lallianzuala Chhangte (Mumbai City)

Lallianzuala Chhangte won the 2022-23 AIFF Player of the Year and the 2022-23 ISL Hero of the League award for his sensational performances at the club and national levels respectively. The winger helped Mumbai City win the ISL Shield in a highly successful 2023 calendar year.

Left Winger – Naorem Mahesh Singh (East Bengal)

Naorem Mahesh Singh had a brilliant 2023 calendar year. Indian football fraternity acknowledged his talent thanks to his performances for East Bengal in the Indian Super League. The attacking winger had seven assists at the end of the 2022-23 ISL season, the highest for an Indian.

Central Attacking Midfielder – Greg Stewart (Mumbai City)

Greg Stewart was superb for Mumbai City, propelling them to the top of the league table to win the ISL Shield at the end of the 2022-23 season.

He finished that season with eight goals and eight assists and continued to shine in the 2023-24 season as well. In the first nine matches, Stewart has already recorded five goal contributions (two goals, three assists).  

Striker – Dimitri Petratos (Mohun Bagan)

Dimitri Petratos finished the 2022-23 ISL season with 19 goal contributions (the most) and picked up from where he left off in the 2023-24 season with four goal contributions in eight appearances.

His performances were immense in helping the Mariners win the 2022-23 ISL Trophy. The striker never went out of form throughout the calendar year. 

Striker – Noah Sadaoui (FC Goa)

Noah Sadaoui’s first season in the ISL was sensational, to say the least. He started the year 2023 brilliantly, performing well in the latter part of the 2022-23 ISL season to finish with nine goals and nine assists for FC Goa. In the ongoing 2023-24 season of the league, Sadaoui has already scored four goals in seven outings. 

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