MUMBAI:
The Indian Super League (ISL) 2023-24 was a thrilling season filled with goals, drama, and entertainment. Among the excitement, several players emerged as key contributors to their teams’ successes. These standout performers not only shone on the field but also delivered significant points in the ISL Fantasy game, proving invaluable to managers who selected them despite their low-cost price tags.
FC Goa forward Noah Sadaoui finished as the highest-scoring player in the game with 113 points. Joining him in the elite 100-point club were Mohun Bagan Super Giant’s Dimitrios Petratos, Punjab FC’s Madih Talal, and Odisha FC’s Roy Krishna. While these stars rewarded their fantasy managers handsomely, successful teams also needed to find room for budget-friendly players who could deliver consistent points.
Some of these economical players turned out to be real bargains, contributing big to both their real-life teams and fantasy managers’ squads. Let’s take a closer look at some of the budget players who exceeded expectations and scored big in ISL Fantasy this season.
Amey Rawanade (Rs 3.6 CR) – 96 points
Amey Ranawade emerged as the highest-scoring defender in ISL Fantasy, finishing the season with an impressive 96 points. The Odisha FC full-back was a consistent starter under coach Lobera, making 24 appearances and contributing with a goal and six assists while also playing a key role in keeping eight clean sheets for the team.
Despite his modest price tag, Ranawade delivered big as an attacking full-back, making significant contributions both defensively and offensively throughout the season. His performances earned him recognition as one of the top fantasy performers in the league.
Jay Gupta (Rs 3.5 CR) – 95 points
Thanks to his modest price-tag, Gupta emerged as a standout player in ISL Fantasy, amassing 95 points. The FC Goa full-back was the second-highest scoring defender, trailing just one point behind Odisha FC’s Ranawade. He also secured a spot in the top 10 list of highest-scoring players in the game.
In his debut season, Gupta had a breakthrough campaign under head coach Manolo Marquez, featuring in 25 games and contributing two goals and three assists. His defensive prowess was instrumental in helping FC Goa keep nine clean sheets, the joint-most in the league alongside Mumbai City FC and Odisha FC.
Amrinder Singh (Rs 3.6 CR) – 90 points
Amrinder Singh finished as the top-scoring goalkeeper in ISL Fantasy with 90 points, five points ahead of Mohun Bagan SG’s Vishal Kaith, who came in second. Despite narrowly missing out on the Golden Glove award, Singh matched the clean sheet tally of winner Phurba Lachenpa but stood out due to his remarkable number of saves.
Singh registered the most saves in the season, with 81 saves across 24 appearances. His consistent performances and presence between the sticks were crucial for Odisha FC, helping them reach the playoffs for the second consecutive season and the semi-finals for the first time.
Isak Ralte (Rs 4.2 CR) – 86 points
The third player from Odisha FC to feature in the list is Isak Ralte, who was one of the most budget-friendly players in ISL Fantasy and he consistently rewarded his owners throughout the season. Scoring 86 points, he ranked as the fourth-best midfielder in the game and was the top-scoring Indian midfielder with the same tally.
Ralte had a breakthrough season under head coach Sergio Lobera at Odisha FC, where he registered four goals and three assists in 24 appearances. His contributions were pivotal in helping Odisha FC qualify for the semi-finals for the first time in their history.
Vikram Partap Singh (Rs 3.4 CR) – 74 points
Forward Vikram Partap Singh flew under the radar in ISL Fantasy, compared to his higher-priced teammates Lallianzuala Chhangte, Bipin Singh, and Jorge Diaz. Despite a slow start to the season, Singh’s performances saw a significant upturn following the arrival of head coach Petr Kratky.
Singh capped off the season as the Emerging Player of the League, thanks to his eight goals and four assists – his best-ever ISL season in terms of goal contributions. He also made a crucial impact in the semi-finals, registering a goal contribution in both legs and helping his team reach the final, where they triumphed over Mohun Bagan Super Giant to win the ISL Cup.
His most impressive run came between Matchweek 15 and 20, where Singh consistently delivered, scoring or assisting in each Matchweek except one.
