Scouting Report: Who is Suhail Bhat featured in The Guardian's 60 best young talents in world football?

The youngster is an upcoming forward who played for Indian Arrows last season.

India has a great pool of young talent that is hungry to represent the country on the international stage. Among the many upcoming stars for the future is Suhail Bhat, a player who is attracting attention towards himself thanks to his potential. The 17-year-old striker was included in The Guardian’s list of top 60 wonder kids in world football. 

He featured with the likes of Mathys Tel (youngest scorer ever for FC Bayern Munich) and other major youngsters from all across the globe. It was a moment of immense pride for the individual and the country, to get recognition from a well-renowned British media house. His performances for the India youth level teams and the AIFF developmental side, Indian Arrows, have been noteworthy.

Suhail Bhat is an exciting prospect. Here is a scouting report for the striker, who is likely become a star in the future.

Scouting Report

Age: 17

Date of birth: 8th April, 2005

Position: Striker

Place of birth: Jammu & Kashmir

Debut

Suhail Bhat was called up to the India U-16 side thanks to his consistency at the club level. In his debut against the United Arab Emirates in 2021, the striker found the back of the net. His I-League debut came against Sudeva Delhi on 4 March, 2022, where the striker played 34 minutes. He made seven appearances for Indian Arrows during the 2021-22 season. With the Indian Arrows project coming to an end, it will be interesting to see where Bhat plays in the forthcoming seasons.

Positives

Suhail Bhat is an energetic striker who has the capabilities to develop into a complete striker. His movement is clever on the pitch and his hold-up play is excellent. When it comes to finishing from inside the penalty box, the forward is lethal and his positioning is also troublesome for the defenders.

He can stretch defences by going deep and making late runs behind the defensive line. Furthermore, the striker does not shy away from taking long shots and can catch the goalkeeper by surprise. His energy and work ethic are reminders that Suhail Bhat is a hardworking player who will only grow and get better with regular game-time. 

Aspects to Improve

As with every player who is young and developing, Suhail Bhat also has many areas to improve. While he is a tireless worker, knowing when to sprint and press the opposition defenders is key for a modern striker and a trait he will learn. His build-up play can also benefit from more polishing.

Also Read:

• Scouting Report: Gyamar Nikum
• Scouting Report: Vanlalpeka Guite
• Scouting Report: Thanglalsoun Gangte

Gaining upper body strength will allow him to keep the defenders at bay and be more physical in his gameplay. In modern times, a striker is not only quick but also powerful at the same time. It will be exciting to observe Bhat’s approach to different strategies and how he accommodates himself to ever-changing demands as he grows into a complete striker. 

Future

As aforementioned, the Indian Arrows project is coming to a halt. The AIFF Executive Committee aims to refocus their direction in regards to the future of Indian football. That leaves Suhail Bhat without a club and judging by the international acclaim he is receiving, a lot of Indian clubs will be vying for his signature.

It is imperative that the 17-year-old enjoys regular game-time in order to continue his development. The best outcome for Suhail Bhat would be to move overseas and sign for a foreign club. It would benefit the striker a lot more. There are hopes that Bhat becomes the heir to Sunil Chhetri’s place in the national team but there is a long road ahead for that to happen.