Top five players with most minutes played in ISL history

These players have been the standout performers for their clubs in ISL.

It’s difficult to perform at your best every day for a season. But, what differentiates the best players from the rest are seasons in which they play at the top of their game.The steady change in India’s domestic football levels since the Indian Super League’s (ISL) introduction into the country’s football hierarchy has been well-documented. Over the past 10 years, some gifted players have earned their way into the national squad. Among them have also been players who became domestic household names.They earned their rightful place because of their discipline, leadership abilities and consistency both on and off the field. It’s not simple to play with the club colours on the pitch for an impressive amount of time.

A player must have worked hard and shown genuine drive to go this far. Some of them have been outstanding players from the start, while others evolved over time and became the team’s mainstays.

In this article, we delve into the list of top five players who have played the most minutes in the history of the Indian Super League:

5. Narayan Das (FC Goa)

Narayan Das has played in the Indian top-flight league for many clubs. In the 2014–15 season, he made his league debut with FC Goa. He has participated in almost 40 games with the Gaurs. Das joined the erstwhile FC Pune City before the 2016–17 ISL season and proceeded to accumulate steady playing time. 

Additionally, he participated in the 2018–19 season for the erstwhile Delhi Dynamos and the 2019–20 season for Odisha FC. The defender joined SC East Bengal before the 2020–21 ISL season, marking his 100th ISL match.

He also became the first player in the history of the ISL to accrue 10,000 minutes of game-time. At the time of writing, Narayan Das has played in the ISL for a total of 11, 096 minutes.

4. Mandar Rao Dessai (Mumbai City FC)

Throughout his ISL career, Mandar Rao Dessai has proven to be a versatile player. He began the 2015–16 season with FC Goa as a winger and had some incredible performances.

When Spanish tactician Sergio Lobera took over as the Gaurs’ new head coach, he adapted to his new role as a wing-back, making scintillating runs down the flanks. The Indian wing-back became the captain of FC Goa and led the team to the finals of the ISL 2018–19 season.

Before the ISL 2020–21 season, he joined Mumbai City FC, where he went on to win his first title and became the first player in league history to play 100 games. Shortly after he arrived at the City Groups-owned team, the Islanders won the title and the 2022–23 ISL League Winners’ Shield. Mandar Rao Dessai has played in the ISL for 11,433 minutes.

3. Harmanjot Singh Khabra (East Bengal FC)

Harmanjot Singh Khabra, who grew up on the Kolkata Maidan, began his ISL career with Chennaiyin FC in the 2014-15 season after establishing himself at East Bengal. He played 34 games for the Marina Machans and won his first ISL title with them.

He joined Bengaluru FC ahead of the 2017-18 ISL season and won his second title, making 42 appearances for the Blues. The versatile midfielder who can also play as a makeshift right-back joined Kerala Blasters before the 2020-21 ISL season.

Currently, he plays for his boyhood club East Bengal after making a return back in the summer of 2023. Harmanjot Singh Khabra has built a long-term, successful career for himself with his persistence and hard work. He has played a total of 11,652 minutes in the Indian Super League.

2. Pritam Kotal (Kerala Blasters FC)

Pritam Kotal has represented several teams in the league throughout his career. He made his debut with the former FC Pune City in the 2014-15 season and appeared 12 times for the Indian club during his two-year tenure.He joined ATK before the 2016-17 season before going to Delhi Dynamos for the 2017-18 season. In January 2019, he returned to ATK and helped the club win their third ISL title under Antonio Lopez Habas.

The Indian international remains an important component of ATK Mohun Bagan, the amalgamated entity formed by Kolkata heavyweights Mohun Bagan and ATK. Currently, he plays for Kerala Blasters. He has carved out his legacy in the Indian football circuit. At the time of writing, Pritam Kotal has featured for a total of 14,116 minutes.

1. Amrinder Singh (Odisha FC)

Although Amrinder Singh began his career with Pune FC, he debuted in the Indian Super League with the former ATK during the 2015–16 campaign.

The Indian goalkeeper returned to the I-League for a short time before joining Mumbai City FC in 2016, where he earned the Golden Glove in his first season. He was an Islanders player for six years, during which time he won both the ISL title and the League Winners’ Shield.

Throughout his tenure in the ISL, Amrinder has consistently shown to be one of the top performers. He has also worn national colours and played a significant role in ATK Mohun Bagan’s successful season. He currently plays for Odisha FC under his former coach Sergio Lobera and has been a regular in his first season with the Juggernauts. At the time of writing, Amrinder Singh has featured for a total of 14,643 minutes in the Indian Super League.

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