I-League 2024-25 Team of the Tournament

A squad of 17 players who shone for their clubs during the I-League 2024-25 season.

The I-League 2024–25, the nation’s second-tier club football competition, has ended. After many twists and turns and the judgment of the All India Football Federation (AIFF) Appeals Committee, Churchill Brothers SC was crowned champion of the league, with 40 points from 22 league matches. The Goa-based outfit won 11 games, drew seven times, and lost on four occasions.

Inter Kashi FC became runners-up this season, with 39 points from 22 matches. According to reports, Inter Kashi has decided to go to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to challenge the judgment of the AIFF Appeals Committee.

With all this turmoil, apart from the top performances of the clubs, there had been some individual brilliance on the field. Khel Now has prepared a list of eleven players and created the Team of the Tournament. A list featuring both Indian and foreign players who balled out for their clubs on the football pitch.

GK: Jaspreet Singh (Namdhari FC)

The 26-year-old custodian of the post was clinical this season. The Punjab-born keeper played 17 games and kept clean sheets in nine of them for Namdhari FC.

In the match against Inter Kashi on March 6, 2025, he collided with Inter Kashi player Mario Barco in the 23rd minute while attempting to collect a ball in the air. Due to an awkward landing, Jaspreet got injured, and his season ended there. After his injury, Namdhari lost three out of four games and could not keep a single clean sheet.

RB: Kynsailang Khongsit (Shillong Lajong FC)

Kynsailang Khongsit, the right-back of Shillong Lajong FC, was one of the key players of the Meghalaya-based outfit. He played 20 out of 22 games and played most of the minutes. He had two assists to his name. Although Shillong Lajong conceded the second-highest number of goals in the league, with 45, Kynsailang Khongsit’s performance impressed.

CB: Martand Raina (Rajasthan United FC)

The 24-year-old Rajasthan United FC defender impressed all with his performance. Martand Raina was in the starting eleven in twenty matches and scored four goals, the highest number of goals in the I-League by a centre-back.

CB: Aminou Bouba (Real Kashmir FC)

Real Kashmir FC conceded the least number of goals among all I-League teams this season. One of the leading men credited for this achievement was Cameroonian centre-back Aminou Bouba.

He started in 19 games and came on as a substitute in one. The Cameroonian defender scored three goals for Real Kashmir FC this season. Bouba also received one of the fastest red cards in I-League history, against Sreenidi Deccan FC, when he was sent off in the first minute of the game.

LB: Lalremruata Ralte (Churchill Brothers FC)

Lalremruata Ralte’s picture-perfect free kick in the 95th minute on 30th March helped Churchill Brothers FC stay alive in the title race. He played 20 out of 22 games, mostly as a left-back.

Except for a match against Shillong Lajong FC, where he played 79 minutes, he mostly played the full 90 minutes in rest of the league games. He had one goal and four assists to his name, including the mentioned free kick and another vital one against Gokulam Kerala. His presence strengthened the defence and added value in attacking down the wing.

Midfield

LM: Edmund Lalrindika (Inter Kashi FC)

Once again, the Indian midfielder impressed this season. He was the only player from the I-League who was selected for the national football team squad.

The Inter Kashi midfielder was vital in attack. He scored four goals and gave five assists in 19 league games. In the last three games of the 2024-25 league season, Edmund assisted two goals and scored against Churchill Brothers SC.

RM: Lalbiakdika Vanlalvunga (Aizawl FC)

Aizawl FC did not perform well; however, this 25-year-old Mizo player impressed all with his play. From the right side of midfield, his runs and shooting helped Aizawl FC score goals.

He had 11 goal contributions, with five goals and six assists. In the last two games, when the Mizoram team was fighting to avoid relegation, he assisted two goals against Shillong Lajong FC and Namdhari FC.

AM: Sebastián Gutiérrez (Churchill Brothers SC)

The Churchill Brothers SC attacking midfielder scored four goals and provided nine assists for his team. The Colombian midfielder played 17 games for the team, and had goal contributions in seven of these games.

He also controlled the midfield and helped the team in attacking areas. Whenever Gutierrez scored or assisted, Churchill Brothers SC never lost a game.

DM: Ramsanga Tlaichhun (Real Kashmir FC)

The 24-year-old Mizo midfielder played for Real Kashmir FC this I-League season. He generally played in a defensive role, helped control the game, and created opportunities for the forwards.

He missed only one game due to a four-yellow-card suspension. He scored three goals and assisted two times in 21 league games. ISL teams must be keeping an eye on him for the next season.

ALSO READ: Bengaluru FC vs Inter Kashi: Babovic’s heroics, Noguera misses, and other talking points

Forwards

CF: Lalrinzuala Lalbiaknia (Aizawl FC)

Despite injury, Lalrinzuala performed well during the 2024-25 I-League season. The Mizo striker proved himself again and saved his team from relegation. This season, he scored 12 goals, including a hat-trick against Delhi FC.

In the final game of the league, against Namdhari FC, he scored two goals and saved the Mizoram team from relegation to I-League 2. While Lalbiaknia was plagued with injuries, however, recent rumors suggest that he may join ISL outfit NorthEast United FC for the next season.

CF: David Castañeda Muñoz (Sreenidi Deccan FC)

Sreenidi Deccan FC did not perform up to expectations. The Hyderabad-based team was runners-up for the last two seasons of the I-League, and it was expected that this team could be real contenders for the title.

However, things did not go well. Despite this, the Colombian centre-forward David Castañeda Muñoz scored 17 goals in 22 games and had two assists to his name. He had a hat-trick against Aizawl FC, which helped the team make a comeback after trailing 3-0 until the 60th minute.

Substitutes

GK: Ashish Sibi

The Dempo FC custodian had seven clean sheets to his name. He also saved two out of three penalties during the I-League season, which helped the team win one match against Inter Kashi and draw another against Rajasthan United FC.

LB: Clarence Savio Fernandes

The SC Bengaluru player also performed well in defence. The 20-year-old defender joined the club on loan in January 2025 and scored 3 goals and assisted once.

RW: Phrangki Buam

The Shillong Lajong winger played all 22 games, scoring six goals, and assisting two times during the 2024-25 league season.

CM: Nikola Stojanovic

The 30-year-old central midfielder dominated the midfield. He scored 9 goals and assisted once. Started all the games, disciplined, and received just three yellow cards throughout the tournament.

CM: Hridaya Jain

The 19-year-old midfielder from Delhi FC can play in various midfield positions. He scored four goals and assisted once.

CB: David Humanes

The Inter Kashi defender was vital to their defensive solidity during the 2024-25 I-League season. He played 16 games and was solid at the back for head coach Antonio López Habas and the Kashi Warriors.

CF: Douglas Rosa Tardin

The Shillong Lajong FC player scored 13 goals and created two assists during the 2024-25 season. He was injured; otherwise, he would have had the chance to be the highest goalscorer in the league this season.

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