ISL 2026-27: Most valuable India U-23 players to watch
The ISL 2026-27 season began on 10 October 2026 with a double-header as Bengaluru FC and FC Goa hosted Sporting Club Delhi and Chennaiyin FC at their home venues. Ahead of the campaign, a top-10 list identified the most valuable India U-23 players expected to feature in the season.
Indian football’s youth pipeline is a focal point entering the new ISL campaign, with fans paying close attention to academy graduates and I-League arrivals. The U-17 and U-20 sides have already secured qualification for AFC competitions, while the U-23 team missed out on qualification by goal difference. The article notes the senior men’s team sits behind the youth sides in this informal ranking.
Tomba Singh’s rise is traced across the last 24 months: he won the I-League with Inter Kashi, followed by a step forward in the ISL with the same club, earned a call-up to the India U-23 team and scored a few goals, and has completed a move to FC Goa where he is set to represent the Gaurs on the Asian stage. At Sporting Club Delhi, Augustine featured in every minute but one across the club’s ISL and Super Cup campaigns last season, was used in multiple positions including both wing-back roles and center-forward, and has already registered a goal and an assist in the Durand Cup; he has not yet earned an India U-23 call-up.
Zothanpuia transferred from Aizawl FC to Mumbai City FC on a three-year deal and is described as a defensive midfielder who wears the number 45, with composure, ball-playing ability, and a set-piece threat following a breakthrough in ISL 2025-26. Pramveer, a product of the Punjab FC academy who broke through with the Shers, left that club when his contract expired despite interest and higher salary offers from several top ISL clubs and chose NorthEast United FC to prioritise game time and development; he is now a regular in the Indian senior national team and is praised for physicality, comfort playing out from the back and resolute defending while needing to address occasional lapses in concentration.
Macarton Nickson, ranked sixth on the list, has been a steady presence at NorthEast United FC since Juan Pedro Benali’s arrival and has featured in recent senior national team camps; he is noted for energy, tenacity, recoveries and interceptions but is encouraged to improve end-product numbers when given greater attacking freedom. Manglenthang Kipgen, highly rated since his U-19 days, earned a breakthrough in the ISL last year under Panagiotis Dilmperis following Muhammad Suhail’s injury; an attacking midfielder who can operate on the wings, he finished the 2025-26 season with two goals and three assists.
Korou Singh, 19, left Kerala Blasters’ ISL campaign last season after personal difficulties but previously recorded six goal contributions in ISL 2024-25 from the right wing as a 17-year-old and had notable performances under Mikael Stahre. Bengaluru FC’s Fanai is listed among the league’s best young midfielders over the past two seasons alongside Ricky Shabong, serves as one of the India U-23 captains, and registered four assists in 13 games last season while earning praise for recovery, work rate, ball retention and tempo management.
Sanan is placed second on the list after a summer transfer period in which multiple ISL clubs pursued him once it became clear he would receive an NOC and leave Jamshedpur FC instead of joining Churchill Brothers; he has joined Kerala Blasters and is described as a central figure in their new project, with a notable clip of him beating Lucas Torreira before testing Uruguay’s goalkeeper circulating online. Tekcham Abhishek Singh, 21, received attention on global football Twitter for his performance against Brazil in which he kept Vinícius Júnior quiet during the 45 minutes they shared the pitch, has made close to 50 ISL appearances, and has worked previously with Panagiotis Dilmperis at Punjab FC; the article states he will be crucial to Mohun Bagan’s campaign this season.
These U-23 players are expected to feature across ISL clubs during the 2026-27 campaign, which has reinstated playoffs for this season.