Players with most playoff appearances in ISL history

Several players have played in the ISL playoffs more than five times.

The tenth edition of the Indian Super League (ISL) will shift its focus to the high-stakes playoffs after an entertaining and dramatic round of league stage fixtures. It’s been a different season for several reasons.

From Mohun Bagan’s final day trophy heist to Hyderabad FC creating history by winning an ISL game with an all-Indian line-up, we have seen it all. But, now it’s a do-or-die situation for all the teams as we step into the playoffs. As the Indian Super League marks its tenth edition this season, we take a look at the top five players with the most playoff appearances.

5. Sunil Chhetri (5)

Sunil Chhetri has the fifth-highest number of playoff appearances under his belt. The Indian skipper made his first-ever playoff appearance for Mumbai City FC in the 2015-16 season and his remaining four appearances in the playoffs have come for Bengaluru FC in the 2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, and 2022-2023 season. 

Chhetri is the highest Indian goalscorer with seven goals in just five playoff appearances. The 39-year-old led Bengaluru FC to their first-ever ISL title in 2018-19 and has inspired the Blues to the final thrice in four appearances.

4. Pritam Kotal (5)

Pritam Kotal has also made five Indian Super League playoff appearances to date and is all set to make his sixth appearance in the ongoing season. Kotal is one of the most decorated Indian players as he has won the ISL thrice in his entire playing career. The Indian International made his first playoff appearance in 2016 with the erstwhile Atletico De Kolkata and went on to win his first-ever ISL title in the process. 

His second playoff appearance was for the erstwhile ATK in 2019-20 where again he won the trophy before making three back-to-back playoff appearances for ATK Mohun Bagan and winning his third trophy last season.

3. Harmanjot Singh Khabra (6)

The versatile defender has made the third-highest number of playoff appearances in the history of the Indian Super League. Khabra made his first playoff appearance in the colors of Chennaiyin FC and also went on to win his first ISL title as well.

After that, Khabra joined Bengaluru FC and made it to the playoffs for three consecutive seasons with the Blues and also won his second ISL title in the process. He then joined Kerala Blasters on a two-year deal and qualified for the playoffs for two seasons in a row.

2. Amrinder Singh (6)

Amrinder Singh is the only goalkeeper on the list and has made it to six playoff appearances in nine ISL seasons. Amrinder’s first playoff appearance came in for ATK in 2015 before again making it to the playoffs for Mumbai City FC in the following year.

He then went on to make two more playoff appearances for the Islanders and also won the Indian Super League trophy, the league Shield, and the Golden Glove in the 2020-21 season. Consequently, the 30-year-old made a move to ATK Mohun Bagan and featured in the playoffs before making a switch to Odisha and making his sixth playoff appearance. 

1. Mandar Rao Desai (7)

Mandar Rao Desai has the most number of playoff appearances under his belt. The left-back has made seven playoff appearances in ten ISL seasons. Mandar made five out of his seven playoff appearances for FC Goa and won the league Shield in the process.

In 2020, he moved to Mumbai City FC where he won two league Shields and his first-ever ISL trophy. Mandar has been one of the most consistent and top-performing players in the history of the league and his stats speak for him.

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