ISL 2019-20 Team Of The Season: Indian players make themselves known

It was a campaign marked by exciting encounters, eye-catching performances and above all spectacular goals.

The 2019-20 season of the Indian Super league (ISL) did not disappoint when it came to generating excitement around the sport, from fans and players alike. The football fans in the country were treated to a plethora of footballing talent, foreign and Indian, over the course of the season, showing just how much the sport has grown in India over the course of the last six years.

There have been a number of players who have stood out among others for their exemplary performances over the ISL 2019-20 campaign.

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We at Khel Now have put together our Team of the Season and how!

Goalkeeper: Mohammad Nawaz (FC Goa)

The 20-year-old shot-stopper seems to be the natural heir to Gurpreet Singh Sandhu’s #1 spot in the Indian national team. That was evidenced by his performances between the sticks for FC Goa. The Gaurs finished atop at the end of the league campaign, before crashing out to Chennaiyin FC in the semi-final.

A big part of Goa’s potency in attack was their ability to rely on a solid backline that could play the ball out of defence. Nawaz was instrumental to this. His 90% distribution rate and consistently solid performances at the back for the Gaurs earn him a spot in our side.

Right-Back: Edwin Sydney Vanspaul (Chennaiyin FC)

Edwin Sydney Vanspaul was Mr. Consistent for the Marina Machans throughout the 2019-2020 season, popping up wherever he was needed at just the right time. While he did end the campaign playing in midfield, it was his performances at right-back that really caught the eye. The summer signing from Chennai City FC relentlessly stayed with his wingers, not giving them an inch of space to operate.

His performances surely warrant consideration for a call-up to Igor Stimac’s national side.

Centre-Back: Mourtada Fall (FC Goa)

At 6 ft 3”, Mourtada Fall has often been the biggest man on the pitch. The Senegalese defender was a rock at the back for the Gaurs all season long, with his calm on the ball and his aggression off it. The 32-year-old maintained a monumental pass conversion rate of 87% over the course of the campaign, often stepping into midfield to initiate attacks.

Fall was also a major threat from set-pieces, with five goals and three assists to his name.

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Centre-Back: Sumit Rathi (ATK)

The 18-year-old defender was one of the true revelations of the season, playing 14 games in his debut campaign for ATK. The centre-back soon became a fixture in the title-winning side, often displaying a maturity that belied his years. Rathi was also awarded the 'Emerging Player of the Year' for his performances.

Left-Back: Prabir Das (ATK)

Another one of ATK’s backline, Das put in a number of consistent performances from left-back. A full-back who loves to bomb forward, Das chipped in with five assists to add to his defensive contributions. At 26, the defender is at the perfect age to push on and cement a place in the Indian national side, just as he has done at ATK.

Prabir Das attempted a massive 66 crosses over the course of the campaign along with 64 tackles, making it a complete season for the defender.

Central Midfielder: Rowllin Borges (Mumbai City FC)

Rowllin Borges was one of the most astute summer signings by Mumbai City FC. The player touted as one of the best midfielders in the country epitomized the traditional box-to-box midfielder, winning battles in midfield, with crucial tackles to set his side back on the offensive.

Borges made an incredible 108 tackles over the course of the season, scoring two goals and providing two assists to boot.

Central Midfielder: Anirudh Thapa (Chennaiyin FC)

Hailed by many as the torchbearer for the new era of Indian football, Anirudh Thapa’s abilities shone bright as he took game after game by the scruff of its neck and more often than not, was his side’s difference maker. The 22-year-old’s ability to play a killer pass on the half-turn was crucial to Chennaiyin’s resurgence under Owen Coyle.

With six assists and one goal, Anirudh Thapa becomes the sixth Indian in our ISL Team of the Season.

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Right Winger: Hugo Boumous (FC Goa)

The Frenchman was without a shadow of a doubt, one of the best players to have graced the ISL this season. Boumous was involved in a massive 21 goals in just 15 appearances this term, scoring 11 and assisting a further 10. His ability to see a pass before anyone else has made him one of the hottest prospects in the league.

As if a “Hero of the Season” award was not enough, Boumous also takes his place in Khel Now’s Team of the Season.

Central Attacking Midfielder: Sunil Chhetri (Bengaluru FC)

Sunil Chhetri is still one of the best players in the country. The 35-year-old occupied a slightly deeper role this season, but still popped up with an impressive nine goals in 17 appearances on Bengaluru FC’s road to the semi-finals of the competition.

Left Winger: Roy Krishna (ATK)

The Fijian striker came to the Indian Super League after finishing the A-League season as top scorer with Wellington Phoenix. Krishna hit the ground running in India, scoring almost at will for ATK, on their way to their third ISL title. The 32-year-old scored a phenomenal 15 goals and provided six assists as he played every single game, even being named captain of the Kolkata outfit.

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Striker: Nerijus Valskis (Chennaiyin FC)

The Lithuanian striker was one of the main proponents of Chennaiyin’s miraculous mid-season turnaround to make it to the final of the ISL. Valskis managed to match Krishna’s tally of 15 goals and six assists, in one lesser game, despite his side not finding the net in the first three games of the season. Valskis finished the campaign as the Golden Boot winner, as he takes the final spot in our Team of the Season.  

*An effort has been made to not include more than three players from a team to ensure enough representation for the best performers across the board.

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