Can Lalrinzuala Lalbiaknia fill Sunil Chhetri's boot?
Lalrinzuala Lalbiaknia ignites hope for India’s future striker
The Indian national football team have showcased some promising performances over the years but has failed to replicate their heroics consistently. India’s goalscoring woes are no longer a hidden secret, but a topic of huge concern given Sunil Chhetri’s departure.
Chhetri, who holds the record for scoring the most goals for India, has bid goodbye to the national team, and the Blue Tigers have struggled big time since then.
But maybe the time has come for India to look forward to its next stalwart. Sunday’s Indian Super League (ISL) match between Bengaluru FC and NorthEast United will be remembered for many things, but most particularly for the emergence of a new star. While the game ended in a draw, its aftereffect echoed throughout the Indian football circuit.
NorthEast United were trailing 1-0 when Lalrinzuala Lalbiaknia came up with a goal of the season contender against India’s best goalkeeper, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu. Lalrinzuala’s brilliant goal against the Blues has created a lot of buzz in and around Indian Football, with fans and experts expecting him to be India’s next ‘big thing’ or, in short, Sunil Chhetri’s successor.
But does he have all that it takes to go the distance? Let us find out!
Breaking Chhetri’s I-league record
He came into the spotlight during the 2023-24 I-league where he represented Aizawl FC. The young forward turned up like a goal machine for his home club and broke Sunil Chhetri’s long-standing record for scoring the highest number of goals by an Indian.
Lalrinzuala found the back of the net 15 times in the I-League and surpassed everyone’s expectations.
He built upon his heroics from that season and became the Indian top scorer of the I-League again the following season by netting 12 goals. The fact that he managed to do it not once but twice is a testament to his quality and ability to perform consistently at the highest stage.
Scoring 27 goals in the I-League across two seasons isn’t just a fluke, which is why Lalrinzuala deserves to be in the conversation to be Chhetri’s replacement.
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India’s next big thing
India’s image across the global footballing community has always been associated with Sunil Chhetri. The former Indian skipper has made a name for himself at the biggest stage and is Indian Football’s identity for the rest of the world. But, with Chhetri calling it a day, India is in search of his successor, and the search has been on for quite some time.
One name that has recently made the rounds and has the potential to be the next ‘big thing’ in Indian Football is Lalrinzuala Lalbiaknia. The 25-year-old hails from Mizoram and is currently donning the colors of NorthEast United FC. Lalrinzuala is being seen as Chhetri’s successor at the national team, and it’s not just hype.
Lalrinzuala is a technically sound player who loves to attack the ball and trouble the defenders. The goal that he scored against Bengaluru FC speaks volumes about his skills and awareness. He took a brilliant first touch to control the lofted pass from Asheer Akhtar and smashed it past Gurpreet in the blink of an eye.
His goal against the Blues has to go down as one of the finest goals that Sandhu has ever conceded.
Lalrinzuala is a typical number 9 who likes to go all in without a no-nonsense approach. He doesn’t hesitate to take his chance, which showcases his self-belief. He is not about fancy dribbles or moves with the ball or long-range screamers.
The striker loves to exploit empty spaces with his in-behind runs. He is a workhorse, and his movements without the ball often put defenders out of position.
He outpaces the defenders with his pace and trickery with the ball and often forces them to make schoolboy mistakes. The target man ticks a lot of boxes, but few areas need his attention. Lalrinzuala needs to level up his game in terms of physicality. If he becomes a well-built striker, it will be impossible for defenders to overshadow him.
Moreover, he has a medical history of sustaining injuries, and it remains to be seen how well he has recovered from it.
What needs to be done?
For Lalrinzuala to become India’s next ‘big thing’, a lot of things have to change. He needs to be given the greenlight ahead of any foreign striker at NorthEast United to begin with. If the Highlanders manage to give him enough gametime at the top, Lalrinzuala can very well unlock his true potential. Playing against the top Indian and overseas defenders will do the world of good to his confidence and gameplay.
India is expecting him to be their torchbearer after Chhetri, and the 25-year-old has to work his socks off to live up to everyone’s expectations. On paper, he has all that it takes to solve India’s goalscoring woes and if given a chance, he might work wonders.
Lalrinzuala has seen a lot of struggles in his personal and professional life over the years, which has shaped him into the player that he is today.
He has the desired hunger to go all the way, and Khalid Jamil and Juan Pedro Benali should jointly put their trust in him and give the necessary push to make it big.
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Yash has been involved in the Indian Football circuit since his school days. He has been covering various sports since 2020 and has also covered a couple of on-ground events, including the 2022 FIFA U17 Women's World Cup in Odisha.