ISL: The definitive preview, minus the boring bits

With a decade of glory, agony, pain, and happiness served up on a platter, the Indian Super League is back for its eleventh season.

While the league may not have the same glamour it once did, it has become more akin to typical football leagues around the world that prioritize the sport over entertainment.

However, as the game has evolved, the entertainment quotient has certainly increased as a delightful consequence.

Season 11 of the grand football extravaganza is set to kick off on September 13th, with defending champions Mohun Bagan hosting the defending Cup winners, Mumbai City FC, in the City of Joy.

Here is everything you need to know about the league that made people say, "Come on India, Let's football".

The more derbies, the merrier

The league is bigger than ever, with 13 teams competing for India’s premier football title this season.

Mohammedan SC, another Kolkata giant, earned promotion to the top tier after clinching the I-League title last term.

Mohammedan SC's promotion means that bragging rights in Kolkata have become a three-way affair, with fans guaranteed at least six thrilling derbies during the league phase alone.

Representation in Asia

The two Bengal giants will represent the nation at continental competitions.

Bagan had already secured their spot in the brand new reformation of the AFC Cup, the AFC CL2 by winning the shield last term.

East Bengal's Super Cup win got them into a qualifier for AFC CL2, but with their defeat to Turkmenistan's Altyn Asyr earlier, they find themselves in the newly introduced third-tier competition - The AFC Challenge League.

Change is the only constant

Most of the clubs have undergone changes in personnel with Mohun Bagan SG, Kerala Blasters, and Punjab all rounding preparations for the new season under new head coaches.

Jose Molina returns at Bagan and the post-Ivan Vukomanovic era at Kerala begins at Kerala under Mikael Stahre.

Meanwhile, Punjab's Greek influence continues under Panagiotis Dilmperis.

The transfer window did not disappoint either as it has been filled with dramatic turnarounds and controversies.

More Drama

Some of the notable domestic moves include Apuia leaving Mumbai for Bagan, Jeakson leaving Kerala for East Bengal, Brandon Fernandes moving over to Mumbai, and the most controversial, of them all; the move of Anwar Ali across to the rival camp as he chose to endear the red and gold over the maroon and green.

With the signing of Anwar Ali, East Bengal not only signed India's best center back but also received a transfer ban for the next two windows and Anwar Ali cannot represent EB until December.

The cherry on top? Their bitter rivals will receive over 12 crores as compensation. Talk about a mastermind move in the transfer window.

On the foreign front, East Bengal's spree of locking up both the top assister (Madih Talal) and goalscorer (Dimitrios Diamantakos) of the past season is quite a statement of intent.

Goa took Armando Sadiku from Bagan and saw Noah leave for Kerala. Mumbai bought their big guns from Greece as Karelis and the Spanish Jon Toral came in to recharge their title push.

Odisha and Lobera welcomed the Bagan exile Hugo Boumous to Kalinga while Bengaluru went for a Spanish core, spearheaded by the Argentine Jorge Pereyra Diaz.

Coyle and Chennai went shopping around ISL and took home Wilmar Jordan, Elsinho, and Chima Chukwu with Lukas Brambilla coming in to round off the proceedings at the arena.

Jamshedpur followed a similar suit and picked up Jordan Murray, Cirkovic, Siverio, and Javi Hernandez. Kerala saw their number 9 jersey resurrect after 90 days through Jesus Jimenez and Alexandre Coeff came in to sure things up at the back.

Meanwhile, Mohun Bagan had wrapped the biggest name of the season tag pretty early on through Jamie Maclaren.

Mohemmadans, Punjab, and Northeast continued their lineage of some great scouting by bringing in new names from new places to the league; and if the usual course is to be followed, new names should get household in duly shortly.

Hyderabad meanwhile where on the lookout for investors before players. Slammed with a ban after the ban, finally, the Deccan legion found some ray of hope when BC Jindal Group acquired their licensing. A bit cold on the squad-building front, the former champions still seem likely to play the season under the cosh.

How it should pan out?

The eleventh season must be a tough one for the scriptwriters due to the insane variety of narratives that are possible.

The league does seem as competitive as it ever has been with almost all sides claiming a stake at the upper echelons of the table.

While Bagan and Mumbai aim for the peak from the get-go, Goa, Odisha, East Bengal, Bengaluru, and Kerala all look to continue their challenge for the crown.

Northeast is fresh, fiery, and motivated following their Durand Cup triumph, Chennaiyin and Jamshedpur look on keenly to re-establish themselves at the top, and Hyderabad, Punjab, and Mohemmadans are left to prove their mettle.

Who to watch out for?

For starters, Jamie Maclaren would be a good pick.

With his track record of sneaking goals for fun, it should not take him long to get on the scoresheet. Across the rivalry, at East Bengal, Diamantakos x Talal should be a spicy combo as well.

Kerala fans are already hoping that their Jesus - Luna - Noah trio hits the ground running.

Hugo under Lobera should be a treat to the eyes, especially when the Moroccan is coming with the hunger to show what he is all about.

Manolo's Goa seems quite a unit with Sadiku up top completing the puzzle that was left sketchy last season. Kratky's Indian revolution should be rejoicing at the sight of Brandon Fernandes to add even more firepower to an already exquisite squad.

Thaatha's Chennai seems molded into the typical Owen side you'd see while Punjab's Pandora's box should prop up its surprises as well.