The Indian Super League 2024–25 season has officially come to a close. Mohun Bagan conquered their second League Shield and added a second ISL Cup to their name. They now face Churchill Brothers in the Super Cup final, with the chance to complete a historic treble.
When the ISL began, it was envisioned as a platform for emerging Indian stars—a stage where new talents could shine and eventually earn a place in the national team. Over time, however, that narrative faded away. After all these years, the league has still failed to produce a first-class striker—or even a simple replacement for Sunil Chhetri.
This season further exposed that failure. Only one Indian striker made it into the top 10 goal scorers list. And, disappointingly, it was the person ISL had once dreamed of replacing—none other than the 40-year-old legend Sunil Chhetri himself. He netted 14 goals in 28 matches and added two assists. No young Indian striker or talent managed to break into the top 10.
The youngest player to reach the upper tier of the list was Brison Deuben Fernandes from FC Goa. He scored 7 goals and provided 2 assists in 24 matches, ranking 13th overall. Lallianzuala Chhangte was another forward who made an impact, scoring 6 goals and assisting 2 in 24 games, placing him in the top 25.
The fact that not a single Indian forward scored more than 10 goals is deeply disappointing. The core theme of ISL 2024–25 was to find a worthy successor to the iconic Sunil Chhetri. Ironically, the only striker to make it into the top 5—or even top 10—was Chhetri himself. The over-reliance on foreign players was another glaring issue.
This became evident when Chhetri returned to international football after retirement. India barely managed to survive against a low-ranked Bangladesh side—a match that exposed the lack of talent up front for India.
Throughout the entire season, we barely heard the name of any Indian star making an impactful performance for their club. The only Indian name that resonated was Khalid Jamal—and he’s a coach. Not a single young Indian player’s performance truly fascinated or inspired.
This raises serious questions about the very foundation of the Indian Super League.
Despite being a fully functional league for several years, it has failed to deliver a homegrown striker. While the league has produced a few forwards like Rohit Danu, Rahim Ali, Liston Colaco, Jerry Mawihmingthanga, Sahal Abdul Samad, and Lallianzuala Chhangte, none of them seem poised to take the baton from Chhetri.
Many believe Lallianzuala is a gem and a potential replacement. But can a player who scored just six goals be considered a successor to someone who scored more than 14? Surely not. While Lallianzuala has earned his place in both U-19 and senior national squads, his presence in the starting XI has always been overshadowed by Chhetri.
ISL is failing due to multiple reasons, including a lack of grassroots development, failure on the international stage, overreliance on foreign players, declining TV ratings, and more. But among the most devastating aspects are the sidelining of the I-League, the short season duration, and the franchise-based model.
The I-League: A Forgotten Heritage
One primary concern is how the ISL has sidelined the I-League, once the heart and soul of Indian football. This division has created a significant gap between the traditional fan base and the new system. Many loyal fans of traditional clubs find it hard to connect with the franchise-based ISL format.
In 2023, the least-attended ISL match had just 361 fans. In 2025, that number was 350 for the least-attended game on March 6. These figures tell a disheartening story.
The Short Season
A typical football season spans around nine months, from August to May. But in India, the ISL barely lasts four months. This short window fails to build momentum or a loyal following among neutral fans.
Yes, ISL recorded 81 million viewers—a significant number. But even that pales in comparison to the 110 million Indians who watched Argentina vs France, two nations unrelated to India. It shows that Indian fans exist; they don’t find Indian football compelling.
With a fanbase of around 304 million—nearly equal to the population of countries with top football leagues—India has immense potential. But ISL’s failure to reach even neighbouring nations like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, despite housing a historic club like Mohun Bagan (dating back 136 years), is telling.
The Franchise-Based Model
Another low point is the ISL’s franchise-based model. Most football leagues operate with a promotion and relegation system. But in the ISL, there is no fear of relegation—no matter how poorly a team performs.
This season, the league introduced a promotion-relegation system. But even that became controversial when two clubs claimed promotion.
Over time, the Indian Super League is becoming less relevant to the average fan. Only the biggest clubs manage to maintain a loyal fan base. If the current system continues, ISL risks becoming just another forgotten chapter in Indian football history.
