In a land where Cricket is religion and Sachin Tendulkar is God, there is no room for any other sport.
Or is there?
Because Football fever has slowly gripped the nation. Indian Super League, the football version of Indian Premier League has had a successful outing for three years in a row.
Started with a bang in 2014, Indian Super League saw football-crazy fans across the country rejoice in joy for a league of their own. ISL 2014 ended with Atlético de Kolkata being crowned the inaugural champions after a win over Kerala Blasters FC in the final.
Two years later, nothing has changed. Not the fans, not the chants, not the excitement and not the champions. After the final whistle and a deciding penalty shootout, it was heartbreak once again for Kerala Blasters FC and championship redemption for Atlético de Kolkata.
While there were moments of fun, brilliance, and awesomeness in every match, these 25 pictures will truly sum up the entire league.
1. The Glitzy Opening Ceremony With B-Town Celebrities
2. The First Kick Off – Kerala Blasters FC vs NorthEast United FC
3. Rafael Coelho Takes a Free Kick for FC Goa against FC Pune City
4. Defending Champions Chennaiyin FC Fans Cheer for the Home Team With a Trophy Replica
5. Richarlyson celebrates his goal for FC Goa against Mumbai City FC
6. Iain Hume (right) in action against FC Goa
7. Mumbai FC Fans Pay Tribute for the Indian Army
8. Arsenal Legend Thiery Henry Gets His First ISL Experience
9. Golden Boot Winner Marcelinho (Delhi Dynamos) poses with the Golden Boot Band
10. Fans Celebrate Sunil Chhetri’s Exploits with a Special Poster
11. Albino Gomes Makes a Crucial Save Against NorthEast United FC
12. Delhi Dynamos FC Fans Celebrating Every Member of the Squad
13. Laxmikanth Kattimani Makes a Brilliant Save for FC Goa
14. Fans of Kerala Blasters FC Pose for Photos during Half Time
15. Virender Sehwag Enjoying Delhi Dynamos’ Match Against Kerala Blasters at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium
16. FC Goa Team Pays Tribute to Chapecoense, the Brazilian Football Club Which Lost Its Players in a Colombian Plane Crash
17. Marcelinho Kisses the Ball After Scoring the First Hat-trick of ISL 2016
18. Romeo Fernandes dribbles past the goalkeeper to score the winner for FC Goa
19. Atlético de Kolkata’s Iain Hume Converts a Penalty to Guide the Team into the Final
20. Kerala Blasters Celebrate their Victory over Delhi Dynamos in the Semi-Final Clash
21. Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar Along with Nita Ambani Before the ISL Final
22. Kerala Blasters FC Fans Painted the Stadium Yellow During the Final
23. Debjit Majumder Makes a Crucial Save for Atlético de Kolkata in the Penalty Shootout
24. Jewel Raja Shaikh Kicks in the Winning Penalty for Atlético de Kolkata
25. Atlético de Kolkata Win ISL for the Second Time in Three Years
Image Credits: Indian Super League (ISL)
Come on India, Let’s Football!
