Cooperage stadium

Mohun Bagan Super Giant: Bengaluru FC skipper Sunil Chhetri has hailed the Indian Super League (ISL) as one of the most important tournaments he has participated in, ahead of the commencement of the 2024-25 campaign. Chhetri admitted that back in 2014, he wouldn’t have predicted the growth that the ISL has seen over the years, producing umpteen young talents and becoming bigger with the entrance of new clubs.

“It has been outstanding. 10 years back if I was asked where ISL would reach, or the position that it would hold in Indian football, I probably wouldn’t have guessed where we are. It has grown outstandingly well from an eight-club two-month-long league to now running for the whole year, with the talents that it has produced,” Chhetri said while speaking to the ISL.

“It has single-handedly become one of the most important tournaments in my lifetime. In the coming future, as I am an Indian football fan, I hope it grows exponentially and I hope the coming 10 years are far better than what we have seen in the last 10 years," he added.