Top 15 Indian players to watch out for at Next Generation Cup 2024

The tournament will feature some bright Indian prospects.

Aston Villa are set to host the Next Generation Cup 2024 edition at their world-class academy facilities, which boast more than eight football fields and many impressive amenities. The tournament will be held from August 1 to August 4, with the finals hosted at the Loughborough University Stadium.

The Next Generation Cup is a gateway for young Indian footballers to compete against academy teams from Premier League clubs. The three teams representing India at this edition have been chosen through the Reliance Foundation Development League (RFDL), a pioneering tournament in India that provides valuable game-time to professional clubs, with the latest edition featuring 57 teams playing 299 matches.

Punjab FC, who won the RFDL 2023-24, alongside runners-up East Bengal and third-placed team Muthoot FA, will represent India against Premier League sides Crystal Palace, Aston Villa, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton and South African club Stellenbosch FC.

The tournament has been a great pathway for young Indian footballers to experience world-class opponents and see where they stand in terms of global football standards. Recently, two players from Premier League clubs who featured at the previous edition of the tournament made their Premier League debuts.

Indian football fans are excited as this will provide opportunities to identify who could be the next superstar from these U-21 boys. Here are 15 players (not ranked in any order) we think might make a big impact, not just at this edition of the Next Generation Cup but in the coming years in Indian football.

Arjun Raj

• Position: Central Midfielder
• Team: Muthoot FA
• DOB: 01-10-2002
• Qualities: Tackling, Passing, Stamina

Muthoot FA captain Arjun Raj played an essential role in his academy’s qualification for the Next Generation Cup 2024. The 22-year-old central midfielder leads by example, making minimal mistakes and using his knowledge of the game to advise his teammates.

Arjun lives and breathes football, often watching games in his spare time. This also helps him chip in with goals and assists. Arjun scored twice and recorded two assists in the Reliance Foundation Development League 2023-24.

Nandu Krishna

• Position: Centre-Back
• Team: Muthoot FA
• DOB: 22-04-2003
• Qualities: Passing, Aerial Strength, Organisation

6-feet-tall Nandu Krishna from Edazhikod is a modern centre-back who has all the qualities of passing from the back alongside aerial strength and organizing the defence. Krishna started playing football at a young age, developing his skills before joining MFA in the 2021-2022 season.

Nandu has played a crucial part in the team’s solid defensive record, adding more than just defensive ability by chipping in with goals and leading the team from the back.

Also Read: Next Generation Cup: Players who have played in Premier League

Naveen Krishna

• Position: Striker
• Team: Muthoot FA
• DOB: 23-08-2003
• Qualities: Pace, Finishing

Munnar-born Naveen Krishna is a sharpshooter known for finishing any chances that come his way. After joining MFA in 2020, Naveen has been irreplaceable. In the Reliance Foundation Development League, Naveen scored four goals and recorded two assists in 12 matches.

One of his most notable moments was in the finals of RFDL when he setup the first goal in the third-place match, propelling MFA to victory and qualifying for the Next Generation Cup.

Muhammed Ashar

• Position: Left Winger
• Team: Muthoot FA
• DOB: 01-10-2003
• Qualities: Pace, Dribbling

Muhammed Ashar is a left winger who can cut in and finish on his right foot or beat his man on the outside and deliver into the box. In the Reliance Foundation Development League, Ashar scored five goals and recorded three assists.

One of his most notable goals came in the third-place match, when he successfully converted the first penalty of the shootout.

Arjun MM

• Position: Right Winger
• Team: Muthoot FA
• DOB: 05-10-2003
• Qualities: Chance Creation, Skills

Arjun MM is a right winger who frequently uses his pace to run down the line and setup goals, something he did on five occasions in the Reliance Foundation Development League.

However, Arjun is also a capable finisher, scoring two goals in the RFDL, most notably the second penalty in the third-place playoff.

Gourab Shaw

• Position: Goalkeeper
• Team: East Bengal
• DOB: 04-05-2004
• Qualities: Distribution, Aerial Strength, Shot Stopping

Gourab Shaw is a modern goalkeeper who featured in eight regional and final matches of the Reliance Foundation Development League, keeping five clean-sheets. He played an essential role in helping East Bengal qualify for the Next Generation Cup.

Tanmay Das

• Position: Central Midfielder
• Team: East Bengal
• DOB: 02-05-2001
• Qualities: Distribution, Passing

Tanmay Das, already promoted to East Bengal’s first-team, plays as a deep playmaker who has the ability to hold the ball well in tight situations and find more attacking players in empty spaces, with great distribution skills. He played 15 matches in the RFDL, scoring three goals.

Naseeb Rahman

• Position: Central Midfielder
• Team: East Bengal
• DOB: 19-10-2002
• Qualities: Dribbling, Tackling, Passing

Palakkad-born Naseeb Rahman is a midfielder with qualities ranging from tackling to dribbling to passing. He has already been part of various first-team training sessions under Carles Quardart.

Sayan Banerjee

• Position: Left Winger
• Team: East Bengal
• DOB: 14-01-2003
• Qualities: Dribbling, Crossing, Speed

Sayan Banerjee is a fan-favourite at East Bengal. He has already featured 11 times in the ISL and Super Cup, including two Kolkata Derbies against Mohun Bagan. An inside winger who plays on the left, he has attributes like dribbling, crossing and speed.

If he can work on his finishing skills, he will serve Indian football well. Currently recovering from an ankle injury, he might not feature in the initial part of the Next Generation Cup 2024.

Also Read: Next Generation Cup 2024 Schedule, fixtures, results, points table, live streaming details

Vanlalpeka Guite

• Position: Attacking Midfielder
• Team: East Bengal
• DOB: 23-10-2006
• Qualities: Chance Creation, Passing, Dribbling

Former India U-17 captain Vanlalpeka Guite was the hottest property after the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023 in Thailand. East Bengal beat other teams for his signature. Since then, he has been progressing well in the reserve team setup of the Kolkata giants.

Vanlalpeka Guite with a cheeky finish to make it 2-0 for East Bengal against Luton Town U-18s. A deserving goal for Peka, who is the best player on the pitch. 🇮🇳⚽️ #IndianFootball #EastBengal #LutonTown pic.twitter.com/9tbPuhCvEH

— Ashish Negi (@7negiashish) July 30, 2024

He has already made his ISL debut for East Bengal and we will see more of him with the first-team this season. Before that, he will grace the Next Generation Cup 2024 against Premier League opponents.

Vanlalpeka Guite is such a beautiful player, great to watch him live after seeing him in Germany and Thailand last year. In the first minute of the match, he beat 3 players and nutmegged the fourth with ease. 🇮🇳⚽️ #IndianFootball #EastBengal @KhelNow pic.twitter.com/aElkcqCLvk

— Ashish Negi (@7negiashish) July 30, 2024

Manglenthang Kipgene

• Position: Attacking Midfielder
• Team: Punjab FC
• DOB: 03-06-2005
• Qualities: Chance Creation, Dribbling

Manipur-born playmaker Manglenthang Kipgene was the Player of the Tournament at the SAFF U-20 Championship 2023, scoring two goals and providing one assist against Pakistan in the final. Kipgen is already part of Punjab FC’s first-team and made his ISL debut last season.

He hopes to have a bigger role this season and impress the team management with his performance in the Next Generation Cup 2024. In 14 matches of the RFDL, he scored seven goals and provided 13 assists.

Aayush Deshwal

• Position: Goalkeeper
• Team: Punjab FC
• DOB: 18-11-2004
• Qualities: Aerial Strength, Distribution

Pauri-born goalkeeper Aayush Deshwal played an essential role in Punjab FC’s winning campaign in RFDL to qualify for the Next Generation Cup. He kept six clean-sheets in 11 matches and impressed with his distribution and collection.

Pramveer

• Position: Centre-Back
• Team: Punjab FC
• DOB: 20-06-2007
• Qualities: Passing, Positioning, Tackling

Haryana-born Pramveer was an essential part of Bibiano Fernandes’ India U-17 team at the AFC Asian Cup U-17 2023. Since then, he has made significant progress with Punjab FC, winning the U-17 Dream Championship 2023-24 and playing 13 matches in RFDL.

The left-footed defender is one to watch not just for the Next Generation Cup 2024 but for the long-term for the Indian football team.

Muhammad Suhail

• Position: Left Winger
• Team: Punjab FC
• DOB: 12-09-2006
• Qualities: Pace, Dribbling, Physical Strength

Palakkad-born Muhammad Suhail is another exciting winger from Kerala. His playing style is similar to Ashique Kuruniyan’s. Suhail hopes to have better luck with injuries and make a bigger impact in Indian football.

He has everything you need in a winger, having scored five goals in 15 matches for Punjab FC in RFDL 2023-24.

Also Read: Next Generation Cup: Top five players who played in ISL

Omang Dodum

• Position: Striker
• Team: Punjab FC
• DOB: 07-07-2007
• Qualities: Pace, Finishing, Positioning

Arunachal Pradesh-born Omang Dodum was part of the India U-17 team for the AFC U-17 Asian Cup 2023. Dodum scored 13 goals in 17 matches in RFDL 2023-24, finishing as the highest goalscorer in the tournament.

With a lack of goalscorers in Indian football, Dodum hopes his performance in the Next Generation Cup 2024 will earn him a spot on Punjab FC‘s first-team for the 2024-25 season.

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