ISL: Who are the top 5 young players to watch out for this season?

The eleventh season of the Indian Super League (ISL) kicks off this Friday with Mohun Bagan SG facing off against Mumbai City FC.

The young players who debuted for their teams and have played for two seasons will be returning after their stellar performances last season.

With the Indian team transitioning to a new era under Manolo Marquez, many of these young players, some of whom have represented the Blue Colts, will be aiming to leap the Blue Tigers shortly by showcasing their prowess this season as well.

Here are the top 5 amongst these young talents who stood out last season and are hot prospects to watch closely.

1. Mohammed Sanan K

The Kerala-born striker from Jamshedpur FC is a young talent eager to impress once again in the 2024-25 season of the Indian Super League (ISL).

At just 20, Sanan K has already made his mark, scoring two goals in 20 ISL appearances.

A product of the Reliance Foundation Young Champs, Sanan proved his mettle as a winger in his debut season and further impressed in the 2024-25 Durand Cup, despite his team, Jamshedpur FC’s early exit. He scored twice against Assam Rifles in that cup.

The striker also showcased his skills in the 2024 Kalinga Super Cup, contributing a goal and an assist in three appearances.

2. Parthib Sundar Gogoi

Fresh off a Durand Cup title win with a crucial penalty goal against Mohun Bagan SG, Parthib Sundar Gogoi is on a hot streak for NorthEast United FC.

The 21-year-old Assamese winger, who switched from Indian Arrows to NorthEast United FC, has made 35 appearances for the team and has scored eight goals since his debut season in 2022-23.

His standout performance came when he scored a hat-trick against Shillong Lajong FC in his debut season at the Durand Cup. Gogoi also scored a goal in the Super Cup across his three appearances.

Internationally, he has had a stellar career as a Blue Colt, scoring five goals in eight appearances for India U20, and was part of the squad that won the 2022 SAFF U-20 Championship against Bangladesh.

3. Vishnu PV

Another promising striker from Kerala, Vishnu Puthiya Valappill, is looking like a great prospect for East Bengal FC in the ISL 2024-25 season.

He made history by scoring the fifth-fastest goal in ISL, scoring against Odisha in just 32 seconds which remains his only goal in 19 appearances so far.

As he prepares for his second ISL season, Vishnu's stats are impressive.

He played all five matches in the Kalinga Super Cup, where East Bengal emerged as champions after defeating the defending champions Odisha in the final.

Additionally, the 22-year-old made his international debut for India U23 against Malaysia in March this year.

4. Vibin Mohanan

At just 21 years old and having won the ISL Emerging Player of the Month award in November last year, this central midfielder from Kerala Blasters has already caught the attention of many.

Trained under former national football team captain I M Vijayan during his early days, Vibin rose through the ranks to play for KBFC’s Under-15 team before joining the senior squad.

He also gained valuable experience playing for Indian Arrows for two years. Although he has scored only one goal in the ISL, which came against Mohun Bagan, Vibin has been a key anchor in the midfield, demonstrating excellent offensive and defensive skills.

Additionally, he has represented India at both the U20 and U23 levels.

5. Tekcham Abhishek Singh

Punjab FC, which made its debut in the ISL last season after winning the I-League, featured many youngsters who contributed to its promotion. One of the standout players for the team was Tekcham Abhishek Singh.

Singh, who had previously played I-League games for the Shers, was impressed with his debut ISL match against Bengaluru FC, which ended in a thrilling 3-3 draw.

From there, the young lad from Manipur went on to make 10 starts for the team, excelling as a right-back defender. The 19-year-old also provided crucial assists, tied for second-most for Punjab FC.

Earlier, he scored a goal for the Shers in the I-League and represented them in the Durand and Super Cup.