ISL 2026-27: Top five Punjab FC players to watch vs Odisha FC
Bijoy Varghese represented India in all three games in the last International break
Punjab FC will welcome Odisha FC to the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi to close out matchweek 1 of the Indian Super League (ISL) 2026-27 season. Both teams will be playoff contenders come the end of the season, and hence they will be eager to start their respective campaigns well.
The Shers finished fifth in the ISL 2025-26 season and were one of the title contenders going into the final matchweek. Pavlos Dermitzakis took over the Punjab FC head coach role over the summer, and the Greek tactician has a hungry team under him.
Here are the Top five Punjab FC players to watch against Odisha FC on Wednesday.
Bijoy Varghese
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Bijoy Varghese will be starting the ISL 2026-27 season with a lot of confidence after playing India’s friendlies against Panama, Brazil, and Uruguay over the international break. The 26-year-old centre-back joined Punjab FC from Inter Kashi last season and played 12 ISL games.
With respect to his statistics, Bijoy made 120 defensive contributions and won 37 duels for his club in the ISL 2025-26 season. His contributions will be critical against a revamped Odisha FC side on Wednesday.
Also Read: Punjab FC vs Odisha FC: Three key player battles to watch out for
Ricky Shabong
In Ricky Shabong, Punjab FC have another Indian international who played a part in the high-profile friendlies in September and October. The defensive midfielder was ever-present for the Shers in the ISL last season, making 43 tackles and 23 interceptions in 13 league games.
The 23-year-old is strong on the ball, and his quick feet will help his side relieve pressure when they are pressed during the game. Ricky will start his ISL 2026-27 campaign, going up against an experienced Manuel Molina, who has played against the likes of RCD Espanyol and Malaga; hence, his quickness and decision-making ability will be under the scanner from day 1.
Alfred Planas
Alfred Planas was a major signing for Punjab FC this summer. The Spaniard represented Inter Kashi last season, in which he scored 5 goals and provided one assist in 13 ISL games. The 30-year-old is versatile and can play as an attacker or in a deeper midfield role.
Punjab FC will be going up against a new-look Odisha FC midfield, and hence, Planas can be expected to drop deep to help his teammates keep possession and supply it to the right areas.
Raphael Messi Bouli
Raphael Messi Bouli made the move from Jamshedpur FC to Punjab FC over the summer. The 34-year-old has also represented East Bengal and Kerala Blasters in the past, bringing with him much-needed experience to this young Punjab squad.
With Jamshedpur FC, Raphael Messi Bouli scored 2 goals in 13 games, a number that he would be looking to improve this time around. Aside from shooting and getting goals, the forward also created 17 chances for his teammates and won 125 duels for Jamshedpur FC in the ISL 2025-26 season.
Manglenthang Kipgen
Punjab FC have given the spotlight to quite a few young Indian talents in their squad over the years, and Manglenthang Kipgen is one of them. The 2021 is part of Punjab’s setup from 2022 and helped them win the I-League title in the 2022-23 season.
Kipgen played all 13 ISL matches for the Shers last season, scoring 2 goals and providing one assist. Playing on the right wing, the youngster uses his pace to perfection. Aside from creating chances, Kipgen also drops down to help his defenders, owing to which he made 50 recoveries and 35 defensive contributions last season.
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