SportSutra

10 Players Likely to be Bought Back at Mega IPL 2025 Auction using RTM

With IPL 2025 Auction around the corner, franchise teams are working on strategies to build the best squad for IPL 2025 and beyond. The teams are expected to focus on retaining key players through the RTM (Right to Match) option.

We have listed down ten players likely to be bought back by their respective teams.

1. Devon Conway – Chennai Super Kings

There are plenty of reasons CSK is expected to use RTM on Conway. Devon Conway offers them stability at the top of the order alongside captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. Also, the New Zealander gives a wicket-keeping option and CSK might think of him as a backup for MS Dhoni.

Photo by Arun SANKAR / AFP) (Photo by ARUN SANKAR/AFP via Getty Images

2. Will Jacks – Royal Challengers Bengaluru

RCB will be keen on Will Jacks since they need someone attacking and aggressive at the top of batting order. Since he has proven what he can bring to the table in the last edition, we can see Royal Challengers try to repurchase him with RTM.

Photo by PUNIT PARANJPE/AFP via Getty Images

3. Marcus Stoinis – Lucknow Super Giants

Marcus Stoinis’ all-round capabilities make him a hot commodity at the auction and LSG will not let go of him so easil. The power-hitting batter who can anywhere in the batting order and a useful seam bowling option makes Stoinis a must-have in the T20 format.

Photo by ARUN SANKAR/AFP via Getty Images

4. Mukesh Kumar – Delhi Capitals

Mukesh Kumar’s prowess in the last couple of seasons has been impressive. Skill with the new-ball and old has increased his stocks for the upcoming auction. Delhi IPL Team can see Mukesh as a long-term asset and try get him back with RTM.

Photo by NOAH SEELAM/AFP via Getty Images

5. Khaleel Ahmed – Delhi Capitals

Khaleel Ahmed has plenty of experience and is a rare left-arm Indian fast bowler who makes the life of batmen difficult. The knack of taking wickets and vast experience adds value to the team and retaining him via RTM would provide DC with a reliable pace option.

Photo by INDRANIL MUKHERJEE/AFP via Getty Images

6. Abdul Samad – Sunrisers Hyderabad

Sunrisers Hyderabad have nurtured Abdul Samad over the years as a long-term investment. They can get the big-hitter back for the finishing ability and prowess he has shown in the last edition of the Indian Premier League.

Photo by MONEY SHARMA/AFP via Getty Images

7. Tushar Deshpande – Chennai Super Kings

Tushar Deshpande was among the leading wicket-takers for Chennai Super Kings in the last couple of seasons. He stepped up when CSK needed him to and now Chennai IPL team can show faith in him using RTM.

Photo by R. SATISH BABU/AFP via Getty Images

8. Nehal Wadhera – Mumbai Indians

The young Nehal Wadhera has put on some strong performances in the last couple of seasons. Now that Mumbai Indians have only uncapped RTM card available, MI buying back Nehal is a possibility.

9. Naman Dhir – Mumbai Indians

Another uncapped player in the ranks of MI, Naman Dhir has shown flashes of brilliance in the limited opportunities. Mumbai IPL team can once again show faith in the player and buy him back at Mega IPL 2025 Auction.

10. Swapnil Singh – Royal Challengers Bangalore

Swapnil Singh grabbed the opportunity with both hands in the last IPL edition and became a go-to bowler for the franchise. The left-arm spin and capability with the bat make him a candidate for RCB to exercise the RTM card on Swapnil.

Photo by SURJEET YADAV/AFP via Getty Images

Which Players are eligible for RTM?

Team	Retained Players	Purse Remaining	RTM Eligible Players	Players eligible for RTM
Mumbai Indians	5	₹55 Cr	1 uncapped player	Harvik Desai, Vishnu Vinod, Arjun Tendulkar, Shams Mulani, Nehal Wadhera, Anshul Kamboj, Naman Dhir, Shivalik Sharma, Piyush Chawla
Chennai Super Kings	5	₹55 Cr	1 player	Ajay Mandal, Ajinkya Rahane, Deepak Chahar, Devon Conway, Maheesh Theekshana, Mitchell Santner, Moeen Ali, Mukesh Choudhary, Nishant Sindhu, Prashant Solanki, Rajvardhan Hangargekar, Shaik Rasheed, Simarjeet Singh, Tushar Deshpande, Rachin Ravindra, Shardul Thakur, Daryl Mitchell, Sameer Rizvi, Mustafizur Rahman, Avanish Rao Aravelly
Royal Challengers Bangalore	3	₹83 Cr	3 players	Faf du Plessis, Anuj Rawat, Suyash S Prabhudessai, Will Jacks, Saurav Chauhan, Glenn Maxwell, Mahipal Lomror, Karn Sharma, Cameron Green, Swapnil Singh
Delhi Capitals	4	₹73 Cr	3 players	Anrich Nortje, David Warner, Ishant Sharma, Lalit Yadav, Mitchell Marsh, Mukesh Kumar, Pravin Dubey, Prithvi Shaw, Rishabh Pant, Syed Khaleel Ahmed, Vicky Ostwal, Yash Dhull, Harry Brook, Ricky Bhui, Kumar Kushagra, Rasikh Dar, Jhye Richardson, Sumit Kumar, Shai Hope, Swastik Chhikara, Jake Fraser-McGurk
Kolkata Knight Riders	6	₹51 Cr	–	No RTM available
Lucknow Super Giants	5	₹69 Cr	3 player	KL Rahul, Devdutt Padikkal, Quinton de Kock, Ashton Turner, Deepak Hooda, Krishnappa Gowtham, Krunal Pandya, Kyle Mayers, Marcus Stoinis, Mohd. Arshad Khan, Prerak Mankad, Yudhvir Singh, Arshin Kulkarni, David Willey, Shivam Mavi, Shamar Joseph, Matt Henry
Sunrisers Hyderabad	5	₹45 Cr	1 uncapped player	Abdul Samad, Anmolpreet Singh, Upendra Singh Yadav
Gujarat Titans	5	₹69 Cr	1 player	BR Sharath, Abhinav Manohar, Sandeep Warrier, Gurnoor Brar, Darshan Nalkande, David Miller, Jayant Yadav, Joshua Little, Kane Williamson, Matthew Wade, Mohammad Shami, Mohit Sharma, Noor Ahmad, Sai Kishore, Vijay Shankar, Wriddhiman Saha, Azmatullah Omarzai, Umesh Yadav, Sushant Mishra, Kartik Tyagi
Punjab Kings	2	₹110.5 Cr	4 players	Jitesh Sharma, Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone, Harpreet Bhatia, Rilee Rossouw, Chris Woakes, Vishwanath Pratap Singh, Ashutosh Sharma, Tanay Thyagarajan, Atharva Taide
Rajasthan Royals	6	₹41 Cr	–	No RTM available

Teams with the biggest purse at 2025 IPL Mega Auction

The IPL 2025 Mega Auction will set the tone for the next five years. Looking back, moments like the IPL Mega Auctions were crucial for teams like Chennai Super Kings and Mumbai Indians in sowing the seeds of their dynasties. The auction not only reshapes team rosters but also significantly impacts each franchise’s success in the upcoming seasons. Teams with larger budgets, or “purses,” have more flexibility in recruiting high-caliber players, allowing them to make strategic moves that could define their performance in the years to come.

However, just like salaried individuals, IPL 2025 teams must work within a fixed budget, with each team starting with INR 120 crores if they have no retained players. A limited budget means teams will need to strategize carefully when bidding for players, considering the right combination while factoring in the players they’ve already retained.

2025 IPL Mega Auction: How the budget works?

Before discussing each team’s purse for the 2025 IPL Mega Auction, it’s important to understand why some teams have a larger purse, while others must work with a smaller budget.

For those unfamiliar with IPL auction rules, it might seem like there’s a disparity or bias in how the budgets are set, but that’s not the case.

The IPL governing council has provided each team with a base budget of INR 120 crores heading into the auction. This budget is for the entire roster and represents the maximum amount only if a team enters the auction with a clean slate, meaning no retained players. If a team retains a player—say, for INR 10 crores—that amount is deducted from their budget, leaving them with INR 110 crores (120 – 10). This is why there’s a variation in the remaining budgets for teams heading into the auction.

Also Read: All about Salary Cap on Foreign Players ahead of IPL 2025 Auction

Players retained by every team ahead of 2025 IPL Mega Auction

Every team had some high-profile players on their roster, whom they had the right to retain. While teams did retain players, this came at a cost. As mentioned earlier, the cost of retaining players, which includes their salaries, is deducted from their total budget of INR 120 crores. Below is the list of players retained by each team ahead of the 2025 IPL Mega Auction.

Virat Kohli is the only A-List player retained by RCB

Chennai Super Kings Retained Players

MS Dhoni
Matheesha Pathirana (foreign player)
Ruturaj Gaikwad
Ravindra Jadeja
Shivam Dube

Delhi Capitals Retained Players

Axar Patel
Kuldeep Yadav
Tristan Stubbs (foreign player)
Abishek Porel

Gujarat Titans Retained Players

Rashid Khan (foreign player)
Shubman Gill
B Sai Sudharsan
Rahul Tewatia
Shahrukh Khan

Kolkata Knight Riders Retained Players

Sunil Narine (foreign player)
Rinku Singh
Varun Chakravarthy
Andre Russell (foreign player)
Ramandeep Singh
Harshit Rana

Lucknow Super Giants Retained Players

Nicholas Pooran (foreign player)
Mayank Yadav
Ravi Bishnoi
Mohsin Khan
Ayush Badoni

Mumbai Indians Retained Players

Rohit Sharma
Suryakumar Yadav
Tilak Varma
Hardik Pandya
Jasprit Bumrah

Punjab Kings Retained Players

Prabhsimran Singh
Shashank Singh

Royal Challengers Bangalore Retained Players

Virat Kohli
Rajat Patidar
Yash Dayal

Rajasthan Royals Retained Players

Sanju Samson
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Riyan Parag
Sandeep Sharma
Shimron Hetmyer (foreign player)
Dhruv Jurel

Sunrisers Hyderabad Retained Players

Heinrich Klaasen (foreign player)
Pat Cummins (foreign player)
Abhishek Sharma
Travis Head (foreign player)
Nitish Kumar Reddy

Remaining budget of every team ahead of 2025 IPL Mega Auction

As mentioned earlier, the cost of retaining players reduces the total available budget by that same amount. Rajasthan Royals have the smallest budget available, as they retained players such as Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, and Dhruv Jurel, all of whom are part of India’s team setup in various formats.

Punjab Kings, on the other hand, have the largest purse available, having retained only two players, Shahrukh Khan and Prabhsimran Singh. It’s worth highlighting that PBKS are the only team with a remaining budget of over INR 100 crores. They can certainly make a strong impact on the proceedings at the 2025 IPL Auction.

Mumbai Indians and Sunrisers Hyderabad are the two other teams, besides Rajasthan Royals, with a budget of less than INR 50 crores.

Franchise	Retained Players	Purse Spent (INR)	Purse Available (INR)
CSK	5	65	55
DC	4	47	73
GT	5	51	69
KKR	6	69	51
LSG	5	51	69
MI	5	75	45
PBKS	2	9.5	110.5
RCB	3	37	83
RR	6	79	41
SRH	5	75	45

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Pro Kabaddi Best Raider: Top 10 Raiders in PKL History

Kabaddi fever has taken over India nowadays. Somewhat like cricket, you will see and hear sports enthusiasts keenly engrossed in the ongoing Pro Kabaddi League. Here’s a rundown of the top 10 raiders in Pro Kabaddi history, some are the reason why Kabaddi is so exciting like never before.

1. Pardeep Narwal

Pardeep Narwal is arguably the biggest legend in Pro Kabaddi. He is known as Dubki King for his signature move where he dodges under defenders. Pardeep has scored a staggering 1,727 raid points in 177 matches and is still going strong.

2. Maninder Singh

Maninder Singh, the second on the Pro Kabaddi Best Raider list, is known for swift movement across the mat. Bengal Warriorz’s go-to raider, Maninder’s tally of raid points stands at 1,479 in 151 matches.

3. Pawan Kumar Sehrawat

Pawan Sehrawat has been one of the best raiders India has produced in the recent times. His signature move is to jump over defenders as the escape route. Hi-Flyer Pawan Sehrawat thus far has racked up 1,277 raid points in 134 matches.

4. Rahul Chaudhari

Rahul Chaudhary is probably the biggest entertainer Pro Kabaddi League has ever seen. For that season, Rahul was called the “Showman” of Kabaddi. In 154 matches, Rahul amassed 1,045 raid points and enthralled audiences with his entertaining moves.

5. Arjun Deshwal

Arjun Deshwal is the new face of PKL. The consistent and power-packed performances in the recent seasons has made Arjun a fan favorite. He has scored 1,038 raid points in 99 matches thus far and is quickly rising up the ranks.

6. Naveen Kumar

Naveen Kumar is another modern-day raider who moves swiftly on the Kabaddi mat and is hard to catch. With 1,029 raid points in just 95 matches, Naveen Express is shattering raiding records for fun.

7. Deepak Niwas Hooda

Deepak Niwas Hooda is a dream all-rounder who was equally adept at both raiding and defending. Deepak racked up 1,020 raid points across 157 matches.

8. Sachin Tanwar

The highest paid player Kabaddi player of the ongoing PKL Season 11, Sachin Tanwar is a prolific raider. With 1,012 raid points in 136 matches, Sachin’s calm approach on the mat and ability to handle pressure makes him a top raider.

9. Vikash Kandola

Vikash Kandola has amassed 810 raid points from 124 matches and is still going stronger. For years, he was the swiftest movers on the mat and known for his sharp raids. In the current season, he is seen playing second fiddle to raiders and playing as an all-rounder.

10. Ajay Thakur

Ajay Thakur was one of the sharpest minds on the Kabaddi mat. His signature move “frog jump” earned him many a fans. He scored 794 raid points in 120 matches with his skillful raids and quick thinking.

Top 10 Raiders in PKL History

(Stats as on 13 November 2024)

	Name	Matches	Raid Points
1	Pardeep Narwal	177	1727
2	Maninder Singh	151	1479
3	Pawan Kumar Sehrawat	134	1277
4	Rahul Chaudhari	154	1045
5	Arjun Deshwal	99	1038
6	Naveen Kumar	95	1029
7	Deepak Niwas Hooda	157	1020
8	Sachin Tanwar	136	1012
9	Vikash Kandola	124	810
10	Ajay Thakur	120	794

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IPL Auction 2025: Why there is a Salary Cap on Foreign Player Fee this year?

The IPL Auction 2025 will be a one-of-a-kind event. Whatever unfolds over the two days in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, one thing is certain: it will have a major impact on the teams’ immediate future and on the players’ lives. Teams must be nearly flawless in managing their budgets for player services, while players will be glued to their screens, hoping at least one team shows interest in their skills.

Indian players will undoubtedly be in high demand due to IPL’s playing conditions. For those unfamiliar, each IPL team must field at least seven Indian players in their playing XI, with a maximum of four foreign players per match. Speaking of foreign players, a new condition has been introduced by the IPL governing council. According to this rule, there’s now a salary cap on foreign player fees in the 2025 auction. But why?

Also Read: What are new RTM rules?

IPL Auction 2025: Why there is a Salary Cap on Foreign Player Fee this year?

With the IPL Auction 2025 comes a new cap on foreign player fees, aimed at preventing overseas players from securing excessive contracts due to team desperation, especially in mini-auctions. For example, before IPL 2024, a mini-auction in December 2023 saw Mitchell Starc command a record-breaking INR 24.75 crores, as Kolkata Knight Riders went all-in for his services, making him the most expensive signing in IPL history. Similarly, Pat Cummins was acquired by Sunrisers Hyderabad for INR 20.75 crores, marking the second-highest bid.

How the Salary Cap on foreign players work?

This new salary cap intends to prevent foreign players from taking advantage of franchises’ high demand for players. Starting in 2026, foreign player salaries will be capped at the highest retention or auction price paid to Indian players. This means foreign players can earn up to, but not more than, the top-paid Indian player for a season. This cap aims to balance player salaries, prevent inflated bids for international talent, and ensure fair distribution between local and foreign players.

Additionally, if a foreign player’s final bid exceeds the cap, the franchise will pay the difference to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), which will use these funds for player welfare. This policy reflects IPL’s effort to maintain competitive balance and sustainably manage its expanding player market.

When Will IPL Auction 2025 take place?

The Mega IPL 2025 Auction will be held over two days: November 24 and November 25.

Where will the IPL 2025 Auction be held?

The IPL 2025 Auction will take place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

How many players have registered for the IPL 2025 Auction?

This is a major event, with players from numerous countries registering. Specifically, 1,574 players have entered their names into the IPL 2025 auction pool, hoping to secure a life-changing contract.

How to watch live streaming of the IPL 2025 Auction?

The live streaming of the IPL 2025 Auction will be available on the JioCinema Mobile App. It can also be accessed on the JioCinema website.

How to watch the live broadcast of the IPL 2025 Auction on TV?

The live broadcast of the IPL 2025 Auction will be available on the Star Sports TV Network.

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Youth Football in India: Challenges and Opportunities

Football has been gaining significant momentum in India, stepping out of its former niche status. While cricket remains the dominant sport, the launch of the Indian Super League (ISL), along with the restructuring of the football system that places the I-League in the second tier, has made the pathway to professional football clearer for aspiring players.

However, youth football in India still faces multiple challenges. Limited awareness among parents and players about the football system and a strong academic focus that leaves little room for sports make the journey for young footballers especially tough. Here, we explore the challenges and opportunities facing youth football in India.

Challenges in Youth Football in India

Limited Awareness Among Parents and Players

One of the biggest challenges in youth football is a lack of understanding among young players and their parents about how the football system operates in India. Unlike in European countries where football clubs also offer education, making it a perfect system for kids, India lacks a clear path. Many parents are unfamiliar with the steps needed for their children to progress in football, such as which football academies to join, and at what level do the academies professional contracts to the young footballers. This lack of knowledge leads many parents to shy away from investing time and resources into football, opting instead to focus on academics.

The Pressure of Academics

India’s school system is heavily focused on academic performance. The education system prioritizes academic success, leaving students under intense pressure from both schools and parents to perform well in studies. This leaves little time for sports, especially for sports other than cricket. For many students, academics take up most of their day, with time for extracurricular activities such as playing football, often limited to one or two hours. The stress to excel in studies discourages many parents from allowing their children to invest time in sports such as football, where there’s no clear pathway. Parents also prioritize academics, as they view it as the safest route to a stable career.

Limited Support for Sports in Schools

In India, only a few schools place equal importance on sports, and those that do often prioritize cricket or individual sports such as badminton and lawn tennis. Football, along with other team sports like basketball, remains underfunded and less supported. Additionally, there are very few schools with a dedicated football program. This lack of infrastructure prevents talented young players from training consistently and reaching their full potential.

Opportunities in Youth Football in India

Despite these challenges and the relatively slow pace of development, football in India is moving in the right direction. While progress may be gradual, there are positive aspects to consider. The emergence of the ISL has helped streamline the system, providing more opportunities for young players and resources for the sport.

More Investment in Football through the ISL

Let’s be honest, it’s true that “what is seen, sells.” The Indian Super League (ISL) brought much-needed exposure to football in India. The matches are broadcast live during prime time on the country’s biggest networks. High-profile owners such as John Abraham and Abhishek Bachchan, to name a few, created a buzz around football across media and social media platforms. With more attention came more money, and money is the solution to most, if not all, problems.

For football to carve out a space for itself in India, much beyond the following of leagues like the Premier League, La Liga, or Serie A, the ISL has sparked a surge of interest and investment in Indian football. The league has not only attracted international attention but also increased funding for players and teams. ISL clubs are developing youth academies and offering scholarships, providing young footballers with more opportunities as career option.

International Opportunities with European Academies

With India’s exceptional growth over the past decade, the middle class has seen a significant rise in per capita income. With more disposable income, parents can now afford to send their children to European football academies. While it’s challenging to gain admission into renowned academies like Barcelona’s La Masia, Ajax’s Youth Academy, or Liverpool’s Academy, there are other quality options for Indian parents, such as the Alicante Football Academy.

If a child possesses exceptional talent in football, these academies are open to accepting kids from other countries, including India. They offer high-quality training and exposure to European football standards. European academies provide a viable option for Indian parents seeking better football opportunities for their children.

Careers Beyond Playing: Youth Football in India

With more money and traction around football, there are other opportunities for those who couldn’t make it as professional footballers.

As the focus on football grows, there is an increasing demand for writers who can provide news, analysis, and updates on football events both in India and globally. Similarly, the field of football management is expanding, with roles in team management, event organization, and player representation becoming more prevalent.

Additionally, as more children take up the sport, there is a growing need for quality coaches in India. This presents a unique opportunity for retired football players, as well as younger ones, to carve out a career as coaches. With football spreading to previously untouched corners of the country, there is significant potential for new academies. These academies play a crucial role in bridging the gap for young players who may not have access to proper facilities and coaching in schools.

The Road Ahead

For youth football to truly flourish in India, changes are needed across various levels of sports and educational system. Schools and parents must acknowledge the value of sports and recognize football as a legitimate career option. More schools should be encouraged to support sports equally, providing facilities and infrastructure not just for cricket, but for football and other sports as well. Moreover, parents need to be made aware of the growing opportunities in football and should be more willing to support their children’s passion for football.

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Which overseas player will be the highest-paid at IPL 2025 Mega Auction?

IPL 2025 Mega Auction is around the corner, and franchises are eyeing some of the hottest names in international cricket. Whether it’s fast bowlers, utility all-rounders or explosive batters, the auction promises an intense bidding for the most celebrated overseas stars for IPL 2025. Let’s take a look at foreign players likely to ignite bidding wars and become highest paid player at IPL Auction.

#1 Mitchell Starc

The most expensive player in IPL history last season will be in contention to be the highest paid player in IPL 2025 Auction. Left-arm angle and ability to take wickets at all junctures of the match make him such a hot acquisition.

Mitchell Starc Stats in IPL

Matches	Span	Wickets	Best Figures	Bowl Avg	5-fer
41	2014-2024	51	4/15	22.29	0

#2 Sam Curran

Sam Curran will be on the radar of several IPL franchises for his immense value with both bat and ball. He has always been one of the top buys at IPL auctions and that won’t change this time also.

Sam Curran Stats in IPL

Matches	Span	Runs	HS	Bat Avg	100s	Wkt	Best Figures	Bowl Avg	5-fe
59	2019-2024	883	63*	25.22	0	58	4/11	32.75	0

#3 Jofra Archer

Jofra Archer may not be at his prime at the moment but he can garner a lot of interest for the quality bowler he is. In the recent T20Is, Jofra has proved that he has regained fitness and is ready to up the ante.

Jofra Archer Stats in IPL

Matches	Span	Wickets	Best Figures	Bowl Avg	5-fer
40	2018-2023	48	3/15	24.39	0

# 4 Cameron Green

Cameron Green is touted as the next superstar of Australian cricket. Maybe for that reason, he had a high pay cheuqe in the last two editions of Indian Premier League, earning a whopping INR 17.50 crore in a single season. For the skillset and potential, he can be one of the most expensive players on 23 November.

Photo by IDREES MOHAMMED/AFP via Getty Images

Cameron Green Stats in IPL

Matches	Span	Runs	HS	Bat Avg	100s	Wickets	Best Figures	Bowl Avg	5-fer
29	2023-2024	707	100*	41.58	1	16	2/12	41.50	0

#5 Kagiso Rabada

South African fast bowler Kagiso Rabada often goes under the radar when we discuss top bowlers. The stats don’t lie though – 117 wickets in 80 IPL matches suggest the incredible knack for picking wickets. Exceptional skill with the new ball and at the death makes KG a hot pick!

Kagiso Rabada Stats in IPL

Matches	Span	Wickets	Best Figures	Bowl Avg	5-fer
80	2017-2024	117	4/21	21.96	0

#6 Jos Buttler

Jos Butter is one of the most prolific overseas batsmen in the history of IPL. The England international is a dream T20 opening batsman who keeps wickets and also gives a leadership option. Sure, he will find plenty of bidders!

Photo by Vishal Bhatnagar/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Jos Buttler Stats in IPL

Matches	Span	Runs	HS	Bat Avg	100s	Catches	Stumpings
107	2016-2024	3582	124	38.10	7	55	1

# 7 Marcus Stoinis

Marcus Stoinis is a power-hitter who can bat at all positions. Besides the ability to bat in the middle order as an enforcer, his useful bowling gives another option for the better balance of the side. All these traits make him one of the highly desirable players at the auction.

Marcus Stoinis Stats in IPL

Matches	Span	Runs	HS	Bat Avg	100s	Wickets	Best Figures	Bowl Avg	5-fer
96	2016-2024	1866	124*	28.27	1	43	4/15	29.62	0

#8 Phil Salt

Phil Salt made a huge statement in the last IPL edition, scoring 435 runs at a strike rate of 182.01 for Kolkata Knight Riders. Plus, he has good International form to back it up. Teams looking for a top-order powerhouse can go hard to get his services for the 2025 edition of Indian Premier League.

Photo by DIBYANGSHU SARKAR/AFP via Getty Images

Phil Salt Stats in IPL

Matches	Runs	HS	Bat Avg	100s	Catches	Stumpings
21	653	89*	34.36	0	17	0

#9 Jake Fraser-McGurk

The batting of Jake Fraser-McGurk was one the highlights of the last IPL season, 330 runs in 9 matches at a staggering strike rate of 234.04 caught everyone’s attention. The kind of approach he brings to the table, JFM is likely to draw immense from franchises looking to acquire young talent.

Jake Fraser McGurk Stats in IPL

Matches	Runs	HS	Bat Avg	SR	100s
9	330	84	36.66	234	0

#10 Gerald Coetzee

Gerald Coetzee is an out-an-out fast bowler and more than capable lower order batter. The wicket-taker may not be as desirable overseas fast bowler as Mitchell Starc, Kagiso Rabada, or Trent Boult but still a versatile pick to watch out for in the upcoming auction.

Gerald Coetzee Stats in IPL

Matches	Wickets	Best Figures	Bowl Avg
10	13	4/34	26.23

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The Role of Football Academies in India’s Talent Pipeline

Football has been a beloved sport in India for decades, but it has often taken a backseat to cricket in terms of popularity and professional development. However, in recent years, football has slowly begun to rise in prominence, and one of the key drivers of this growth is the emergence of Indian Super League (ISL). With money pumping into the sport, young kids now want to take up sports and aim to become professional footballers. Academies play a crucial role in that regard. They nurture and develop young talent, and lay the foundation for a bright future for the young and aspiring footballer.

Academies: The Backbone Of A Football Infrastructure

Why football thrive in Europe?

This simple question has a simple answer. Football’s success in Europe is primarily due to the robust infrastructure created by the football clubs and academies. This well-established system ensures a continuous flow of talented players. When a Lionel Messi retires, there’s always a Lamine Yamal ready to take over the reins.

But India is still way behind Europe in terms of creating a proper football system at the grassroot level. Let alone young footballers, even many parents are unsure about how football works in India and how a talented kid can break into the Indian Super League (ISL). This lack of awareness is one of the reasons we don’t see players like Baichung Bhutia or Sunil Chhetri consistently emerging from the ranks.

But with the emergence of the ISL, there are signs that the gap between the league and regional football academies, which are often independent, is narrowing. ISL clubs are always on the lookout for the next Baichung Bhutia or Sunil Chhetri, and that’s when they turn their attention to the academies.

Why Role of Football Academies in India’s Talent Pipeline is critical?

Football academies are specialized institutions that provide structured coaching, training, and support to young players. Their role is not just about teaching the technical skills of the game but also about identifying talented kids, improving their physical fitness, preparing them mentally, and helping them understand the tactical aspects of football. Academies serve as a bridge between grassroots development and professional football.

Also Read The Journey of an Indian Footballer: From Grassroots to ISL

In India, where schools are heavily focused on academics, the role of football academies becomes even more critical. Through these academies, children can start training in football from the age of six or seven — an ideal age to provide them with a strong foundation, teaching everything from basic dribbling to advanced tactical play.

ISL and I-League clubs actively scout football academies for talented young players. If a kid shows exceptional promise, these academies can fast-track his career, offering a potential path to the ISL.

Conclusion: Academies are lifeline

Football academies play a vital role in shaping the future of football. Barcelona’s famous La Masia has produced some of the best players to ever grace the game, none bigger than Lionel Messi, and the latest to come through the ranks of this renowned academy is Lamine Yamal. Ajax has managed to sustain success because of its renowned football academy. Ajax is often referred to as a “feeder club” because they nurture players and sell them to bigger clubs such as Liverpool and Real Madrid.

In simple words, academies are the lifeline of any football system. They help build a sustainable, competitive, and inclusive football culture. A strong academy system is key to unlocking India’s potential as a powerhouse in the world of football.

IPL 2025 Auction: How is mega auction different from mini auction

The IPL 2025 Auction will be held on November 24 and 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This is the second year in a row that the Indian Premier League auction is being held outside of India, following last year’s auction in Dubai. This year there’s a mega auction. Let’s break it down for you to understand what is mega auction in IPL and how it is different from mini auction.

How is mega auction different from mini auction

In the Indian Premier League, there are two types of player auctions – mega auction and mini auction.

Mega auctions happen every three years and are much bigger with respect to players up for grabs and teams need to fill more spots. Ahead of a mega auction, each team can only keep a few of their players. This year, the limit was up to six retentions.
Mini auctions are smaller with relatively fewer players going under the hammer and teams only make minor adjustments to their squad. Ahead of mini auction, most of the teams can retain most of their players.

In this year’s mega auction, high-profile names such as Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer are back in the auction pool. Also, it is because of the mega auction and more players on offer that some teams can make their squad from the scratch. More player options and shuffle in rosters only add to the excitement.

How many players have registered for IPL 2025 Auction?

A total of 1,574 players have signed up for the IPL 2025 mega auction, which includes 1,165 Indian players and 409 international players. Among these, there are 320 players with international capped cricketers, 1,224 uncapped players, and 30 players from Associate Nations.

Which high-profile players will go under the hammer in IPL 2025 Mega Auction?

Among the high-profile Indian players to go under the hammer are Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Mohammed Shami, Krunal Pandya, Washington Sundar, Harshal Patel, R Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Arshdeep Singh, Khaleel Ahmed, Deepak Chahar, Devdutt Padikkal, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Venkatesh Iyer, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Prasidh Krishna, T Natarajan and more.

The marquee overseas players that are up for grabs at IPL auction for IPL 2025 include Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Jonny Bairstow, Faf du Plessis, Mitchell Starc, Glenn Maxwell, Kagiso Rabada, Tim David, Rachin Ravindra, David Miller, Devon Conway, Quinton de Kock, Marcus Stoinis, Liam Livingstone and more.

How many players will each team buy at IPL 2025 mega auction?

All IPL teams have to buy a minimum of 18 players and a maximum of 25. Forty-six players have already been retained ahead of IPL 2025 Auction and now there are 204 slots to fill. Among overseas players, there is a cap of eight foreign players per team and now there are 70 slots for overseas players at the auction.

Team	Total Slots Remaining	Overseas Slots Remaining
CSK	20	7
RCB	22	8
SRH	20	5
MI	20	8
DC	21	7
RR	19	7
PBKS	23	8
KKR	19	6
GT	20	7
LSG	20	7

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Indian Super League Stats, Salaries, Prize Money, Key Details

There is no denying the fact that Indian Super League has injected a new life into the Indian football scene. Whether you’re a passionate football fanatic or an average sports fan, you’d agree that ISL movement has revolutionized the sport in India.

When did Indian Super League start?

The Indian Super League (ISL) started on 12 October 2014. Year after year, ISL has grown by leaps and bounds. In October 2019, it was officially recognized by FIFA and the AFC as the country’s main football league.

Among its stakeholders are esteemed organizations like Reliance, Star India, and the All India Football Federation (AIFF). The league’s 13 teams are based in cities like Bhubaneswar, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Guwahati, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Jamshedpur.

How ISL has changed Football in India?

India’s top football competition, in ISL, is a big part of making Indian football better and exciting! With ISL came grassroots programs to find and develop young talent. Then, there is a focus on the refurbishing of stadiums, facilities, and sports infrastructure. This presents a huge opportunity for the next generation of football stars in India! And, then there is a dream to make Indian Super League as competitive as the world’s top leagues.

ISL Winners since 2014

Season	Champions	Cup Winners
2014	Atlético de Kolkata
2015	Chennaiyin
2016	Atlético de Kolkata
2017–18	Chennaiyin
2018–19	Bengaluru
2019–20	Goa	ATK
2020–21	Mumbai City	Mumbai City
2021–22	Jamshedpur	Hyderabad
2022–23	Mumbai City	ATK Mohun Bagan
2023–24	Mohun Bagan SG	Mumbai City
2024–25	–	–

Which is the most successful team in ISL?

The most successful team in the Indian Super League (ISL) is Mumbai City FC, with a total of 4 titles. They have won the League Shield twice in the seasons 2020-21 and 2022-23, along with 2 Cup victories in 2021 and 2024.

Other notable successful teams include ATK, which has won 3 titles but with no League Shield, and Mohun Bagan, which claimed its first League Shield in the 2023-24 season, and one Cup title in 2023. Teams like Chennaiyin and Goa also have a strong history, with Chennaiyin winning the Cup twice and Goa winning the League Shield once in 2019-20.

Owners of Indian Super League Teams

Team	Owner(s)
Mumbai City FC	City Football Group, Ranbir Kapoor, Bimal Parekh, Etihad Group
NorthEast United FC	John Abraham, Shillong F.C, Aizawl F.C
Kerala Blasters FC	Blasters Sports Ventures Pvt Ltd (Chiranjeevi, Nimmagadda Prasad, Akkineni Nagarjuna, Allu Aravind)
Odisha FC	GMS Inc, Kalinga Sports Pvt Ltd, Utkal Group
Goa FC	Jaydev Mody, Akshay Tandon, Virat Kohli, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, Ashish Kapadia
Chennaiyin FC	Chennaiyin FC Pvt Ltd (Vishwanathan and friends)
Bengaluru FC	JSW Group
Jamshedpur FC	Tata Group
SC East Bengal	Shree Cement, East Bengal F.C Pvt Ltd
Punjab FC	N/A
Hyderabad FC	Vijay Madduri, Varun Tripuraneni, Rana Daggubati, Sunrisers Hyderabad
ATK Mohun Bagan	RP Sanjiv Goenka Group, Sourav Ganguly, Utsav Parekh, Mohun Bagan
Mohammedan SC	Bunkerhill Private Limited (30.5%), Shrachi Sports (30.5%), Mohammedan SC Pvt Ltd (39%)

ISL Golden Boot Winners

Player	Team	Season	Matches Played	Goals	Time Played
Diego Mauricio	Odisha	2022-23	21	12	1536 Mins
Bartholomew Ogbeche	Hyderabad	2021-22	19	18	1616 Mins
Igor Angulo	Goa	2020-21	21	14	1645 Mins
Nerijus Valskis	Chennaiyin FC	2019-20	20	15	1620 Mins
Coro	Goa	2018-19	20	16	1784 Mins
Coro	Goa	2017-18	20	18	1730 Mins
Marcelo Pereira	Odisha	2016	15	10	1274 Mins
John Stiven Mendoza Valencia	Chennaiyin FC	2015	16	13	1206 Mins
Elano Blumer	Chennaiyin FC	2014	11	8	826 Mins

Indian Super League Golden Glove Winners

Player	Team	Season	Matches Played	Saves	Saves per Game (M/G)	Time Played
Vishal Kaith	ATK Mohun Bagan	2022-23	24	67	115.53	2195 Mins
Prabhsukhan Gill	Kerala Blasters	2021-22	19	42	81.70	1634 Mins
Arindam Bhattacharja	ATK Mohun Bagan	2020-21	23	59	108.95	2070 Mins
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu	Bengaluru	2019-20	19	49	122.14	1710 Mins
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu	Bengaluru	2018-19	20	61	96.32	1830 Mins
Subrata Paul	Jamshedpur FC	2017-18	18	47	102.47	1537 Mins
Amrinder Singh	Mumbai City	2016	6	8	180.00	540 Mins
Apoula Edel	Chennaiyin FC	2015	13	37	90.00	1170 Mins
Jan Seda	Chennaiyin FC	2014	14	42	143.33	1290 Mins

Most Appearances in Indian Super League

	Player	Matches Played	Years
1	Pritam Kotal (India)	167	2014–
1	Amrinder Singh (India)	167	2015–
3	Lenny Rodrigues (India)	163	2014–
4	Sunil Chhetri (India)	160	2014–
5	Mandar Rao Dessai (India)	156	2014–
6	Rahul Bheke (India)	155	2014–
7	Lallianzuala Chhangte (India)	148	2015–
8	Subhasish Bose (India)	147	2017–
9	Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (India)	143	2017–
10	Jerry Lalrinzuala (India)	141	2015–

Top 10 Goalscorers in Indian Super League

(As on 12 November 2024)

	Player	Goals	Apps	Goal Ratio	Years
1	Sunil Chhetri (India)	64	154	0.42	2015–
2	Bartholomew Ogbeche (Nigeria)	63	98	0.64	2018–2023
3	Roy Krishna (Fiji)	57	112	0.51	2019–
4	Coro (Spain)	48	57	0.84	2017–2020
5	Diego Maurício (Brazil)	41	76	0.54	2020–
6	Cleiton Silva (Brazil)	36	84	0.43	2020–
7	Lallianzuala Chhangte (India)	35	129	0.27	2016–
8	Hugo Boumous (France)	30	108	0.28	2018–
9	Iain Hume (Canada)	29	69	0.42	2014–2019
10	Jorge Pereyra Díaz (Argentina)	29	62	0.47	2021–

Most Hattricks by Players in Indian Super League

(As on 12 November 2024)

	Player	Hat-tricks
1	Bartholomew Ogbeche	4
2	Iain Hume	3
3	Stiven Mendoza	2
3	Dudu Omagbemi	2
3	Coro	2
3	Marcelinho	2
3	Sunil Chhetri	2
3	Modou Sougou	2

ISL Coach of All ISL Teams

Head Coach	Club
Panagiotis Dilberis (Greece)	Punjab
Oscar Bruzon (Spain)	East Bengal
Sergio Lobera (Spain)	Odisha
Juan Pedro Benali (Spain)	NorthEast United
Manolo Márquez (Spain)	Goa
Thangboi Singto (India)	Hyderabad
Owen Coyle (Scotland)	Chennaiyin
Petr Kratky (Czech Republic)	Mumbai City
Gerard Zaragoza (Spain)	Bengaluru
Khalid Jamil (India)	Jamshedpur
José Francisco Molina (Spain)	Mohun Bagan

Home Stadium of All Indian Super League Teams

Club	Home Stadium	Capacity
Bengaluru	Sree Kanteerava Stadium, Bangalore	25,800
Chennaiyin	Marina Arena, Chennai	30,000
East Bengal	Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata	85,000
Mohun Bagan	Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata	85,000
Goa	The Fatorda, Margao	30,000
Hyderabad	G.M.C.B Athletic Stadium, Hyderabad	30,000
Jamshedpur	JRD Tata Sports Complex, Jamshedpur	24,424
Kerala Blasters	Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Kochi	41,000
Mohammedan	Kishore Bharati Krirangan, Kolkata	12,000
Mumbai City	Mumbai Football Arena, Mumbai	6,600
NorthEast United	Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati	25,000
Odisha	Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar	12,000
Punjab	Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Delhi	60,000

More ISL Stats

(As on 12 November 2024)

Category	Record	Team/Season
Most Wins in Total	92	Mumbai City
Most Wins in a Season	15	Mohun Bagan SG (2023–24)
Most Home Wins in a Season	8	Mohun Bagan SG (2020–21), Odisha (2023–24)
Most Away Wins in a Season	9	Mohun Bagan SG (2023–24)
Fewest Wins in a Season	1	East Bengal (2021–22), NorthEast United (2022–23), Hyderabad (2023–24)
Fewest Home Wins in a Season	0	Chennaiyin (2020–21), East Bengal (2021–22), Hyderabad (2023–24)
Fewest Away Wins in a Season	0	Mumbai City (2014), Pune City (2015), NorthEast United (2021–22, 2022–23), Bengaluru (2023–24)
Most Consecutive Wins	11	Mumbai City (12 Nov 2022 – 27 Jan 2023)
Most Consecutive Matches Without a Win	20	Hyderabad (9 Mar 2023 – 4 Mar 2024)
Most Defeats in Total	83	NorthEast United
Most Defeats in a Season	16	NorthEast United (2022–23), Hyderabad (2023–24)
Most Home Defeats in a Season	9	Hyderabad (2023–24)
Most Away Defeats in a Season	8	Hyderabad (2019–20), NorthEast United (2022–23), Bengaluru (2023–24)
Fewest Defeats in a Season	2	ATK (2016), Mumbai City (2022–23, 2023–24)
Fewest Home Defeats in a Season	0	Odisha (2016), Bengaluru (2018–19), Odisha (2023–24)
Fewest Away Defeats in a Season	1	ATK (2016), Mumbai City (2016, 2022–23, 2023–24), Pune City (2017–18), Goa (2020–21, 2023–24), Hyderabad (2020–21, 2021–22), NorthEast United (2020–21), Mohun Bagan SG (2021–22, 2023–24)
Most Consecutive Matches Undefeated	18	Mumbai City (9 Oct 2022 – 11 Feb 2023)
Most Consecutive Defeats	10	NorthEast United (8 Oct – 17 Dec 2022)
Most Goals Scored in a Season	54	Mumbai City (2022–23)
Fewest Goals Scored in a Season	10	Hyderabad (2023–24)
Most Goals Conceded in a Season	51	NorthEast United (2022–23)
Fewest Goals Conceded in a Season	11	Mumbai City (2016)
Best Goal Difference in a Season	33	Mumbai City (2022–23)
Worst Goal Difference in a Season	35	NorthEast United (2022–23)
Most Goals Scored at Home in a Season	25	Goa (2018–19)
Fewest Goals Scored at Home in a Season	4	Hyderabad (2023–24)
Most Goals Conceded at Home in a Season	28	NorthEast United (2022–23)
Fewest Goals Conceded at Home in a Season	2	Kerala Blasters (2014)
Most Goals Scored Away in a Season	30	Mumbai City (2022–23)
Fewest Goals Scored Away in a Season	3	Mumbai City (2014)
Most Goals Conceded Away in a Season	27	NorthEast United (2022–23)
Fewest Goals Conceded Away in a Season	5	Mumbai City (2016)
Most Consecutive Matches Without Scoring	7	Chennaiyin (15 Feb – 10 Nov 2019)
Most Goals Scored in Total	338	Goa
Most Goals Conceded in Total	292	Odisha

How much do Indian Super League players earn?

The salary cap for each ISL team is Rs 18 crore and each team builds its squad within this salary cap. The top ISL players earn in crores, others in Lakhs.

However, to provide more flexibility, the league has also introduced a new rule: two players, whether domestic or international, can now be signed by a club outside of this salary cap. These new guidelines allow clubs to spend more freely on international players, without having to worry about how their salaries will impact the overall salary cap.

What is Indian Super League Winner Prize Money?

Indian Super League winner receives ₹6 crore in prize money. The runners-up receive ₹3 crore while semi-finalists get awarded ₹1.5 crore. Among the individual awards of 10 lakhs each are the Best Pitch Award, Best Grassroots Award, and Best Elite Youth Program for ground crew and teams.

How to Watch Indian Premier League Live?

Fans in India can catch ISL live telecast on Sports18 3 and Sports18 HD 1 TV channels. Indian Super League 2024-25 can also be live-streamed on JioCinema.

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The Journey of an Indian Footballer: From Grassroots to ISL

Arguably the world’s most popular sport, football still plays second fiddle in India. Cricket remains the dominant sport, the go-to pastime for most Indians, yet football has a rich history here. India’s first football club is said to have been established as far back as 1872, and one of the world’s oldest football competitions, the Durand Cup, began in 1888—ten years before Italy’s premier league, Serie A.

Despite its early history, India has yet to see a player play for clubs like Real Madrid, Liverpool, Barcelona, or Bayern Munich. However, the rise of the Indian Super League (ISL) has brought a much-needed structure to Indian football.

Football as a career in India

With esteemed players like Roberto Carlos, Robert Pires, Diego Forlan, Alessandro Del Piero, Nicolas Anelka, and Dimitar Berbatov joining the league, sponsorship and money followed. The monetary rewards have become a major factor in young athletes choosing football as a career. In fact, some players, like Sunil Chhetri, earn crores from ISL salaries alone. So, there’s no shortage of money in the league.

Also Read: 3 All-rounders who might start a bidding war in 2025 IPL Auction

However, the journey of an Indian footballer—from grassroots to the ISL—is one of perseverance, passion, and overcoming numerous challenges. Here, we explore this journey and how an aspiring Indian footballer can make his way to the ISL, provided he has the talent and is ready to put in the effort.

Grassroots – Inculcating Sports Habits

The grassroots level is where the journey begins for most footballers, and at its heart is the school system. Unlike Europe, where education systems are more flexible, most Indian schools are heavily focused on academics. For an aspiring Indian footballer, it’s crucial to find a school with a strong sports program. These schools participate in inter-school tournaments, including football. Enrolling a child in a school with a strong sports structure can help introduce them to football at a very young age.

Developmental Leagues – Next Phase in Journey Of An Indian Footballer

Several organizations, including the All India Football Federation (AIFF), local state football associations, and private academies, run grassroots programs aimed at nurturing young talent. Initiatives like the AIFF Youth Development Programme, Reliance Foundation Youth Sports, and Tata Steel Foundation‘s Youth Football Leagues provide youngsters with the resources, facilities, and exposure they need to grow as footballers. These youth leagues are perfect opportunities for young footballers to play in age-group competitions, such as the Subroto Cup (for school teams), AIFF U-13, U-15, and U-18 Championships, and state-level tournaments.

I League 2 & State Leagues – First Step To Professional Football

The I-League 2nd Division and State Leagues form the backbone of the Indian football system; this is where players take their first steps toward professional football in India. The I-League 2nd Division acts as a promotion league for clubs aiming to play in the I-League, the second tier of Indian football. It’s an essential stage for players looking to become professional footballers.

In addition, state football associations organize regional leagues. For example, the Delhi Soccer Association (DSA) runs a two-tier league in Delhi. Other renowned state leagues include the Goa Professional League, the West Bengal State Football League, and the Karnataka State Football League. These leagues provide valuable opportunities for local talent to develop and get scouted by higher-tier clubs.

Most clubs in the I-League 2nd Division and State Leagues also offer professional contracts, which can be the first professional deal for young Indian players.

I-League: India’s 2nd Tier

Before the emergence of the Indian Super League, the I-League was the top-tier professional football competition in India, and it remains a crucial part of the country’s football landscape. Established in 2007, it was the first national league to create a professional structure for clubs across India. The I-League features clubs from various regions and is still considered the most competitive league in terms of footballing culture and history in India.

For young Indian footballers, their journey from grassroots to the ISL often goes through the I-League. This is where things get serious—where average players are filtered out, and talented ones start drawing attention from ISL teams.

Indian Super League (ISL): India’s Premier Football League

The Indian Super League (ISL), launched in 2014, is India’s top-tier football league. With esteemed players featuring in this league, it has become a commercially successful football competition.

The ISL attracts international football stars, coaches, and significant investment, which has helped elevate the quality of football in India. For aspiring Indian footballers, playing in the ISL is the ultimate dream. Good players earn a solid income, while generational talents like Sunil Chhetri can earn crores. From here, the sky’s the limit for Indian footballers. Who knows, one day we might see a footballer catching the attention of European clubs due to his performances in the ISL.

Conclusion

The steps mentioned above are just a reference—there’s no hard and fast rule for a young kid to become a professional footballer in India. ISL clubs also run their own academies and take in young talent. If a player is good enough, they can secure a professional contract with an ISL club and get a chance to play in the league, without needing to go through the lower-tier leagues. Ultimately, it’s all about talent and the player’s intent.

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