ISL TOTW 13: Bengaluru FC, Delhi Dynamos duo lead the line for India's best

The recently concluded gameweek saw commendable performances by the domestic players on multiple occasions.  

After a long international break, the Indian Super League returned with all its glitz and glamour last week, with teams still adjusting themselves into this second half. While some of the top-runners started off this phase with impressive victories, others were pretty underwhelming and need catching up to do in order to make the playoffs race.

Coming off the AFC Asian Cup, the domestic players were raring to go and prove their ability as the new India National team manager's hunt goes on. Some displayed brilliant accounts of themselves, helping their respective sides achieve success.

Considering all the factorsm here’s our ISL Team of the week 13.

Goalkeeper: Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (Bengaluru FC)

Facing off against two of the best attacks in the league, things were never going to be easy for Gurpreet Singh Sandhu coming off the Asian Cup. He put on a valiant showing against Mumbai City, making ten saves and ten clearances, keeping Mumbai’s counter-attacking blitz at bay. Sandhu was much better against NorthEast United, making some fantastic saves to keep out Ogbeche and co.

Gurpreet won the Hero of the Match against NorthEast United and proved himself to still be in prime shape after the AFC Asian Cup.

Right-Back: Seriton Fernandes (FC Goa)

Cruelly snubbed for the AFC Asian Cup squad, Seriton Fernandes continued to prove his ability in a superb showing against Jamshedpur FC. The FC Goa right-back was one of the shining pillars for the Gaurs in their first match back.

Despite his side being poor going forward, Fernandes kept things tidy at the back and neutralized the dangerous Soosairaj’s threat brilliantly. He made seven tackles and two clearances while being unlucky not to bag an assist when his brilliant long-ball to Ferran Corominas late on not being capitalized on.

ISL Team of the Week 13

Right Center-Back: Anwar Ali (Mumbai City FC)

Age might not be on his side, yet Anwar Ali is using the experience to his advantage to help Mumbai City FC’s charge for the top spot. Coming up against the undefeated Bengaluru FC, Ali had a mighty task ahead of him to stop their devastating attack.

Ali used his wits and expertise to his advantage, cleverly keeping Sunil Chhetri and co from threatening on the attack. Anwar made thirteen clearances in the match, always being at the right place to avert danger for the Islanders.

Center-Back: Subhashish Bose (Mumbai City FC)

Arguably Mumbai City FC’s most consistent player this season, Subhashish Bose picked up from where he left off with another brilliant display against Bengaluru FC. He kept his compatriot Udanta Singh in check on the right and showed impressive discipline apart from that one challenge which got him the yellow card.

Bose made five tackles and ten clearances in another commendable showing, in which he proved to be the Islanders leader at the back once again.

Left Center-Back: Narayan Das (Delhi Dynamos)

Josep Gombau decided to tweak Delhi Dynamos’ system against Kerala Blasters, operating with a three man defence line and drafting Narayan Das into the middle. The left-back was surprisingly good at the center, leading by example and doing a superb job of leading his troops.

He made an incredible fifteen clearances in the match, thwarting away whatever chances Nelo Vingada’s men tried to create. Das was disciplined and tidy in the center, proving his versatility with a sound performance.

Left-Back: Robert Lalthlamuana (NorthEast United)

The NorthEast left-back returned to action refreshingly, playing a crucial role in the Highlanders' win against defending champions Chennaiyin FC. Robert did a great job in neutralizing Chennaiyin’s attacking threat, keeping his side tidy and unthreatened.

He made four tackles as well as a couple of crucial blocks and interceptions to earn another clean-sheet for his side. While Robert wasn’t as effective against Bengaluru FC, he did a decent job and proved why he’s so important in Eelco Schattorie’s system.

Right-Wing: Prasanth K (Kerala Blasters)

One of Kerala Blasters’ shining lights in a gloomy period, Prasanth K helped bring some joy to the Blasters fan in an encouraging performance against ATK. He looked dangerous with his movement and threatened with inviting crosses which created quite a few chances for Nelo Vingada’s side.

It was one of Prasanth’s brilliant crosses which created constant problems for ATK, forcing an own-goal from Gerson Viera, saving the Blasters from even more embarrassment at home.

Center-Midfield: Milan Singh (Mumbai City FC)

Milan Singh had a difficult task at hand keeping Bengaluru FC’s clever midfielders in check, but did a really good job in neutralizing the threat of Dimas Delgado and co. While his passing accuracy wasn’t the best, Milan was quite the industrial figure in midfield, sniffing out danger and often winning back the ball for the Islanders.

Singh made four tackles and clearances as well as two interceptions to disable Bengaluru’s midfielders from causing trouble, while also initiating attacking chances for his side.

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Center-Midfield: Harmanjot Khabra (Bengaluru FC)

After missing out on the AFC Asian Cup squad, Harmanjot Singh Khabra didn’t seem to have lost much coming back from a long international break. He found things to be difficult against Mumbai City, where he played at left-back but regained his best in a central-midfield role against NorthEast United.

The midfielder helped Bengaluru control the game well and added a necessary bite in midfield. He made a few important tackles and clearances in the middle, neutralizing NorthEast’s midfield threat and enabling The Blues to get back to winning ways.

Left-Wing: Lallianzuala Chhangte (Delhi Dynamos)

Lallianzuala Chhangte continued his brilliance for Delhi Dynamos, lighting up the capital once again after the international break. Despite the long lay-off, Chhangte didn’t look to have missed one step as he continued terrorizing Kerala’s defence with his blistering pace and trickery in the wings.

Chhangte was always on the lookout to create something, sending in eight crosses in the game and leaving his opposition in sixes and sevens. He won the Hero of the Match award for his heroics and raised his stakes at soon becoming a national team regular.

Striker: Farukh Chowdhary (Jamshedpur FC)

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Despite being part of a rather bland goalless draw between his side and FC Goa, Farukh showed enough hunger in the final third to catch the audience’s attention. He made all the right runs in the final third and got into a promising position, but wasn’t helped with the necessary deliveries in the box.

The Jamshedpur FC striker attempted an ambitious overhead kick in the second half, which went wide. While he couldn’t break the deadlock for his side, Farukh’s urgency was the best thing about Jamshedpur’s attack on Monday.