Missing Alert: Indian Strikers at the ISL

The ISL organizers have been delighted at the amount of Indian talent that will be showcased during the country’s first ever ISL tournament in September. However, while a considerable part of each time is indeed Indian, there are no Indian strikers as a part of the 84 players drafted in the central domestic player pool.

Strikers like India’s current captain Sunil Chhetri, Balwant Singh (who has now joined Kolkata’s Mohun Bagan club), Robin Singh and Victorina Fernandes are strikers who play for I-League clubs across the country and whose presence will be missed at the ISL. The fact that Indian strikers are missing is mostly due to the I-League teams like Bangalore FC and Goa, who are not magnanimous enough to loan these players for the ISL.

An official was found to have said that most clubs do have foreign strikers and that the lack of Indian ones will not be missed. However, this only reflects on the money-making attitude of the ISL organizing body instead of focusing on what really matters – the promotion of Indian football and encouraging Indian talent when it comes to football.