Indian Super League 2020-21: November Team of the Month

Several Indian youngsters impressed in the inaugural weeks of the new season.

After several months of waiting, the seventh edition of the Indian Super League (ISL) finally kicked off on November 20, with Kerala Blasters taking on ATK Mohun Bagan in the first match. Since then, every team with the exception of SC East Bengal has completed at least two matches each. We are now into the third gameweek of the competition, which started with the game between Chennaiyin FC and Kerala Blasters on Sunday.

Today, Khel Now takes a look at the players who have made it into our very own Indian Super League 2020-21 Team of the Month for November. Keeping in mind the guidelines of the elite league, our team also comprises of five foreigners only, while the remaining six slots are filled by domestic talents. Read on!

Goalkeeper: Subrata Paul (Hyderabad FC)

The veteran Indian shot-stopper has had a good outing so far this season. Coming into the competition, the 34-year-old held the record for keeping the most clean-sheets in the history of the ISL (26). This campaign, he has already added two more to his collection.

In his first match against Odisha FC, Paul made a couple of good saves and preserved Hyderabad FC's fragile 1-0 lead for almost 60 minutes. He then followed it up with a terrific save against Bengaluru FC, when Juanan attempted a shot in the 24th minute. With two shutouts in two games, the former Mumbai City, NorthEast United and Jamshedpur FC star has been one of the best goalkeepers in the league.

Right-Back: Ashutosh Mehta (NorthEast United)

Ashutosh Mehta has done well for NorthEast United, playing 224 minutes across three matches. He was a part of the Highlanders' starting XI that won against Mumbai City, before holding Kerala Blasters to a draw. The 29-year-old made six tackles and 15 clearances, as well as blocking eight shots.

The former Mohun Bagan star has been very effective for Gerard Nus' side at right-back, especially with his threatening attacking runs. He has also shown good defensive abilities as confirmed by his stats.

Centre-Back: Pritam Kotal (ATK Mohun Bagan)

Pritam Kotal has been one of the first names in the starting XI of ATK Mohun Bagan, with Antonio Habas opting for a three-man defence which is unconventional in Indian football. Regardless, Kotal's performances have already proved why his coach was right, with the defender producing some moments of brilliance, as his team maintained two clean-sheets in two matches.

With 10 tackles, five interceptions, 13 clearances and three blocks, the 27-year-old out-performed even Sandesh Jhingan at times and in the weeks to come, one can certainly expect him to deliver even better numbers.

Centre-Back: Dylan Fox (NorthEast United)

One of the most impressive foreign centre-backs, NorthEast United's Dylan Fox has definitely turned heads with his marvelous displays at the back for the Highlanders. In the first game, he played an important role by silencing the likes of Adam le Fondre, Bartholomew Ogbeche and Hugo Boumous, while against Kerala Blasters he thwarted at least two goalscoring opportunities.

Against FC Goa on Monday, Fox once again played a crucial role, as he kept Igor Angulo and Brandon Fernandes at bay. With NEUFC generally opting to play out from the back, Fox and his partner Benjamin Lambot have also been the starting point of many of their attacks.

Left-Back: Akash Mishra (Hyderabad FC)

Only in their second season in the ISL, Hyderabad FC are looking very much like a rejuvenated side under new head coach Manolo Marquez. One of their standout performers has been Akash Mishra, their young left-back.

At just 19 years of age, the youngster is relatively inexperienced, but his displays on the pitch show something else. With his passes and brilliant positioning, the full-back seems to have already made a name for himself among his team's fans and is now a guaranteed starter in the side. In addition, he also likes to switch flanks, participate in build-up play and move forward in attack.

Right Midfielder: Rafael Crivellaro (Chennaiyin FC)

For anyone who has watched both of Chennaiyin FC's matches so far, it will be clear that Rafael Crivellaro, along with the club's new signing Esmael Goncalves, hold the key to their attack. Both were in fine form in their opening two fixtures against Jamshedpur FC and Kerala Blasters.

The Men of Steel did not have any answers to Crivellaro's attacking runs. Against the Blasters too, the 31-year-old performed well, especially in the opening 30 minutes when the team from Kochi found it very hard to contain him. Infact, the Marina Machans were unlucky not to have scored, after he created a couple of golden chances in the first quarter of the match.

Central Midfielder: Khassa Camara (NorthEast United)

In all fairness, Camara was the easiest pick for this XI. Such is the influence he has had in NorthEast United's performances so far this season. The Mauritanian was also the Man of the Match in their first game against Mumbai City FC.

Camara has registered 18 tackles, nine interceptions, four clearances and five blocks till now and has easily outshone the likes of Ahmed Jahouh and Edu Bedia, who are more popular among Indian football fans. A 'Regista' by trade, Camara's primary responsibilities have included acting as a third centre-back for the Highlanders, whenever Benjamin Lambot and Dylan Fox have drifted wide. That role was played to perfection by him, especially against Mumbai and FC Goa.

Central Midfielder: Anirudh Thapa (Chennaiyin FC)

https://youtu.be/BkyKcROV-fs?t=6

Chennaiyin's Anirudh Thapa has been one of the most impressive Indian players in the ISL. In their opening game against Jamshedpur, the youngster scored in just 52 seconds to register the fourth fastest goal in the history of the competition.

Apart from his goal, Thapa also went on to show great skill in keeping the ball and dictating play from midfield, something which very few Indian players have managed to do. The 22-year-old also showed the willingness to help out at the back when needed, something which proves his talent as a quality box-to-box midfielder.

Left Midfielder: Roy Krishna (ATK Mohun Bagan FC)

Another easy pick for this XI, Roy Krishna has been one of the stars in Antonio Habas' ATK Mohun Bagan lineup. With two goals in two matches, he also shares second spot in the ISL Golden Boot race with Diego Mauricio (Odisha FC), Kwesi Appiah and Idrissa Sylla (NorthEast United).

In the first match of the season between Kerala Blasters and ATKMB, Krishna made all the difference as he capitalized on a defensive mistake to score and win the game for his team. He scored from a very tight angle, which reminded fans of his clinical finishing abilities. The striker then went on to do the same against East Bengal as well.

Striker: Nerijus Valskis (Jamshedpur FC)

While Jamshedpur FC themselves have failed to impress, their star striker Nerijus Valskis has picked up from where he left off last campaign, with three goals in two matches. Two of them came from penalties and the third one against Odisha is worth a special mention. The Lithuanian had to pounce on a loose ball and get past a defender, before taking a shot with his weaker left foot from the edge of the box and beating the goalkeeper at the near post.

Apart from the goals, he also made two vital clearances against the Juggernauts, both from corners. The 33-year-old won the ISL Golden Boot last season and based on his current form, he is on track to win the same accolade this time as well.

Centre Forward: Manvir Singh (ATK Mohun Bagan)

https://youtu.be/m0pSmSOgY2U?t=63

Considered one of the most promising young forwards in the country, Manvir Singh has begun this Indian Super League campaign in style, contributing to two of the three goals scored by ATK Mohun Bagan. Against East Bengal in the Kolkata Derby last week, the 25-year-old bagged a brilliant solo goal, picking up a loose ball on the right edge of the pitch, before dodging past defenders and firing into the top left corner.

Apart from being exceptional in the attacking third, Manvir also made an important clearance against the Red and Gold. If he continues to repeat these performances at the top level, it would be safe to say that India has finally found someone to lead their attack in the future.