Why Mohammed Rashid could be East Bengal's special weapon to success in 2025-26 ISL?

Mohammed Rashid’s grit and control will power East Bengal’s title charge

East Bengal had a perfect start to their 2025-26 Indian Super League (ISL) campaign, picking up a thrilling 3-0 win over NorthEast United. The Red & Gold Brigade put the Highlanders to the sword with a dominant display, producing some highly entertaining attacking football to provide joy to their fans at the Salt Lake Stadium.

While the likes of debutant Youssef Ezzejjari (who scored a brace) and Miguel Ferreira earned the plaudits for their goals, a rather discreet hero in East Bengal’s dominant performance was their midfield star, Mohammed Rashid. The 30-year-old midfielder was a highly vibrant figure in their midfield, running the show for his side and helping them take the fight to their opponents as well.

Even though Rashid seems to be settled in a deeper midfield role for East Bengal this season, he has silently made a major impact in adding more life to their midfield since his arrival. He might not be the most flamboyant player in terms of pulling off stylish skill moves or even getting that many goal contributions, but Rashid has asserted himself as the engine for East Bengal’s success. Here we look at the reasons why the Palestinian midfielder could end up being the Red & Gold Brigade’s special weapon this season.

Tenacious nature and never-say die attitude in midfield

Mohammed Rashid is a player who puts his heart into his sleeve every time he puts himself out on the pitch for East Bengal, which is why he’s become such an endearing player for the fans. The 30-year-old midfielder proved that with a memorable ISL debut for the Kolkata side, in which he neutralised the threat of the NorthEast United midfielders with his proactive work.

In his first-ever ISL appearance, Rashid made it seem like he had played in the competition for years. He absolutely dominated the key battles in midfield, making four interceptions, nine possession recoveries and winning eight duels in an eye-catching display. He managed to counter NorthEast United’s quick attacking style with his tenacious manner, running the extra mile to make crucial challenges to thwart their build-up play.

East Bengal has lacked such fearless characters in their midfield in recent seasons, as they have an outlet like Rashid who will work himself to the ground to ensure his team’s success. His never-say-die attitude sees the Palestinian midfielder work hard to win key battles and be able to cover a lot of ground in matches, which should help East Bengal frustrate their ISL opponents by keeping a mean shape in the midfield.

Surprise long-distance shooting factor

Even though Rashid was not brought aboard by East Bengal to get amongst the goals, his hunger for success enables the midfielder to often make the move forward to enhance his team’s goal-scoring prowess. The 30-year-old midfielder is technically quite gifted, being able to pass the ball into the danger zones well and also create chances with unpredictable final third passes.

However, what has helped Rashid really stand out at East Bengal is his ability to catch opposition players by surprise using his long-distance shooting ability. The 30-year-old midfielder loves to try his luck by taking shots from afar, and that has also resulted in two goals scored in his 10 appearances for the Kolkata side so far.

Rashid struck the post against NorthEast United after an excellent effort from a corner, where he really came out as a bold threat. He loves standing outside the box in corners, waiting for the ball to come to him on the rebound and allowing him to take powerful shots on target to add something different to East Bengal’s set-piece threat. Rashid’s long-distance prowess should reward him as the ISL season wears on and result in some crucial goals that can bag important points for East Bengal.

Consistency and Availability

In a campaign where some foreign players in Indian football have struggled with fitness issues or match sharpness, Rashid has kept himself in surprising top shape to deliver powerful performances for East Bengal. In his 10 appearances for East Bengal so far (excluding IFA Shield), Rashid has been able to complete 90 minutes (or more) on eight occasions.

He does not seem to tire out despite covering extremely long distances and running the extra mile to make crucial challenges in the midfield battle. Rashid seems to be always available to usher his team to success, keeping himself free from niggles and preserving his energy smart to help himself fight through the 90 minutes in matches.

Rashid has also managed to stand out at East Bengal because of his sheer consistency in terms of churning out one admirable performance after another. He isn’t a midfielder who shines in one game only to be undone in the next few performances. The 30-year-old can produce solid performances for a string of matches, being able to win duels in the midfield and recover possession in crucial situations to help his side torment opposition teams.

Consistency is the name of the game for any side wishing to challenge for top trophies. If East Bengal are to genuinely be a title challenger for the 2025-26 ISL, they need someone like Mohammed Rashid to be at the top of his game and produce highly efficient performances week in, week out and help his side grind through victories to stay at the top of the table.

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