Three ways PV Vishnu has become pivotal creative force for East Bengal in 2025-26 ISL

PV Vishnu impresses in the last fixtures

East Bengal rejuvenated their charge in the 2025-26 Indian Super League (ISL) title race with their compelling 3-0 thrashing of Odisha FC in their last game. The important result means that the Red & Gold Brigade are now only two points away from the league leaders Mohun Bagan, and seems to have a genuine chance of winning the ISL title in what is expected to be a chaotic finish to the campaign.

The Kolkata giants have definitely graced the 2025-26 ISL with some eye-catching football. They have scored 25 goals in nine matches, averaging nearly three goals a game, and have the most goals for any team scored so far in the ongoing ISL campaign. It’s been an entire team effort for East Bengal, with their varied quality across all departments helping them delight their fans with some pleasing attacking football.

One player who seems to have really benefited from Oscar Bruzon’s tweaks in East Bengal’s system is PV Vishnu. The 24-year-old winger, who impressed for the Kolkata side in recent ISL campaigns, seems to have found his true calling for them in the 2025-26 ISL. Vishnu has four goal contributions (one goal, three assists) and is thriving in the freedom offered to him in this current system.

In a campaign where Naorem Mahesh Singh has struggled with injury troubles and Jerry Mawimingthanga is yet to make a major impact either, Vishnu has been a breath of fresh air for the East Bengal side. Here, we look at the three ways the 24-year-old has become a key creative threat for the Red & Gold Brigade.

3. Utilisation of his unique crossing qualities

One of the major positives to PV Vishnu is that he boasts a really impressive crossing ability, an aspect that helped him break into the East Bengal squad a few years ago. The 24-year-old winger has really worked on honing that quality of his, which has benefited him for the ongoing 2025-26 ISL campaign.

The main reason for Vishnu having three assists so far this season, the joint-most for any East Bengal player this season, is because of how well he’s nailed his crosses from the wide areas.

The Indian winger has developed a great variety in his crossing technique and also an impressive whip into his delivery, putting chances on a plate for his forwards to convert inside the area.

It was Vishnu’s brilliant crossing qualities that enabled Bruzon to make him a go-to man when it comes to creating chances for East Bengal and make them a prominent attacking threat.

2. Overlapping qualities as a left-back

Oscar Bruzon faced quite a few problems when it came to finalising his left-back spot in the early parts of the 2025-26 ISL campaign. New signing Jay Gupta looked the right fit for that, but he was alternated with Lalchhungnunga because of Gupta failing to prove himself as a mobile, all-round full-back for East Bengal.

That is exactly when Bruzon decided to roll his dice and take a risk, slotting Vishnu to start operating as an attacking left-back for the Red & Gold Brigade. That has, to the Spaniard’s credit, proven to be a masterstroke that has elevated East Bengal into challenging for the ISL title.

Vishnu has not only held his own defensively, working hard to win key duels and keep his side safe, but it’s his impressive overlapping qualities that separate him from the other full-backs at the club.

As he’s naturally a winger, Vishnu has the ideas of when to make forward runs to support his fellow attacking players and weave his way into empty spaces in the final third.

Vishnu’s impressive forward runs and overlapping qualities have helped add a new dimension to East Bengal’s attack, allowing them to create chances through that left-flank more fluidity. It’s also enabled Bipin Singh more freedom with his movement, allowing the winger to get regular goal contributions and add a sense of unpredictability to East Bengal’s attacking moves.

1. Unpredictability factor in the final third

The thing that is helping PV Vishnu really stand out in the 2025-26 ISL is that his playing style doesn’t get stale after a point. The 24-year-old has showcased great versatility in being able to operate in many roles for East Bengal in recent years, and he’s always kept on adding newer elements to his style to keep opposition players guessing.

What is helping Vishnu impress in the ISL is how unpredictable his approach can be, because it becomes difficult for defenders or even the winger tracking back to keep him at bay.

Vishnu has realised how to time his runs into the final third perfectly, knowing when to dart forward into the empty areas and when to potentially stay back when Bipin Singh is occupying a key position in the left wing.

This understanding of when to make the runs makes it difficult for opposition players to keep Vishnu quiet and stop him from creating chances, thus enabling East Bengal to expect a plethora of chances coming through the left wing.

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