Top 10 players with most appearances in an ISL final

This list has only two foreign players who have played the most number of ISL finals.

The Indian Super League is now about a decade old and it has witnessed many a good players. It has raised the quality of football in India and amongst players. Those who make it to the final here have are of some pedigree but those who have managed to consistently make it season after season are of different gravy and these are the gentlemen we are going to have a look at today. The Impact on the quality and Importance of Indian players as they have ended up dominating the list.

In this article, we will take a look top 10 players with most appearances in an ISL final.

10. Bipin Singh – 2

Bipin Singh joined the islanders way back on 1st August 2018 to be precise. It wasn’t until the 2020-21 Indian Super League season, with Spanish coach Sergio Lobera at the helm the club, that Bipin finally got his big break. He scored six goals in that season and was the best Indian player for the team. He also scored a dream match-winning goal in the most recent season’s ISL final against ATK Mohun Bagan, as the Islanders did the Indian Super League Double for the first time. In the 2023-24 ISL final too, he came in as a substitute and scored a goal which helped Mumbai City to orchestrate a brilliant comeback over Bagan after being 1 down earlier.

9. Rahul Bheke – 2

Rahul Bheke is one of the most consistent and reliable full back over the years in the Indian circuit. He has also been an integral presence in the dressing room wherever he has gone. He debuted in an ISL final for Bengaluru FC in the 2018-19 season and scored the winning goal against FC Goa. This was the first ISL title for Bengaluru FC. Bheke was adjudge man of the match of the final for his solitary goal in the 117th minute. After the 2020–21 ISL campaign, Bheke left Bengaluru after spending four seasons at the club. On 19 August 2021, Bheke joined Mumbai City FC on a two-year deal. In the 2023-24 season where he played a crucial role as he helped the Islanders to win the ISL Trophy once again.

8. Roy Krishna – 3

Roy Krishna was introduced to ISL and Indian Football fans in the 2019-2020 season with ATK. He scored 15 goals that season and helped his team to win the ISL Trophy for the third time. In the 2020-21 season which was played exclusively behind closed doors due to the pandemic, he led Mohun Bagan to the ISL final. Unfortunately, they lost to Mumbai City in the finals but he became the player of the season. After leaving Mohun Bagan he joined Bengaluru FC and in his first season he won the Durand Cup but once again in the final, Krishna faced another heartbreak as BFC lost to Mohun Bagan in the final on penalties.

7. Gurpreet Singh Sandhu – 3

Sandhu was the rock between the sticks who played an instrumental role in Bengaluru’s run in the 2017-18 Indian Super League season as they marched to the finals against Chennaiyin FC, which they came out losing 3–2. He got his first piece of silverware in the 2018-19 season when BFC won 1-0 by defeating FC Goa. In the 2022-23 ISL final, unfortunately Bengaluru FC lost by penalties to Mohun Bagan; this was the third appearance for Sandhu in an ISL final.

6. Tiri – 3

Tiri clinched his first ISL title in the 2016 season when ATK got one better of  Blasters on penalties. After that, he went to Jamshedpur FC and was part of their furniture for thee seasons. Once again, he came back to Kolkata joining Mohun Bagan for the 2020-21 season, where he lost the ISL final against the Islanders. On 6 July 2023, Tiri signed a one-year contract with Mumbai City FC as a free agent and helped his team to win the 2023-24 season ISL Trophy. He was one of the standout defenders in this season and one of the reason Mumbai were so successful.

5. Subhashish Bose – 3

Bose joined the ranks of  Mohun Bagan from Mumbai City in the 2020-21 season. In the last few seasons, he has played a vital role in the good fortunes of Mohun Bagan in ISL. He helped the team to reach the final in the 2020-21 and 2022-23 season. He was announced as  the club captain in 2023-24 and led the defence with his strong presence and no nonsense approach to the game but was not able to win the ISL title.

4. Vishal Kaith – 3

He was their number 1 that night and had the best seat in the house for the 2020 ISL final  but unfortunately Chennaiyin FC lost to ATK 3-1 at Fatorda Stadium. This was Vishal’s first-ever major final. He kept four clean sheets in 20 appearances in that season. He joined Mohun Bagan in 2022-23 and started in the ISL final against Bengaluru FC on 18 March 2023 which was his second. He was also back amongst the boys on top with his latest appearance coming in the 2023-24 finale.

3. Manvir Singh – 4

Manvir joined hands with the Mariners in the 2020-21 season and has been dazzling with his pace and skills which has played a very important role in Mohun Bagan’s recent success in the Indian Super League. He started in the final against Mumbai City FC on 13 March 2021, which they lost 2-1 after Mumbai City found their all-important goal in the last minute of the match. However, he helped his team to win the ISL title in 2022-23. In the 2023-24 season, he won the League Shield and Durand Cup but ended up losing out to Mumbai City once again in the ISL final.

2. Pritam Kotal – 4

On 14 June 2016, it was announced that Kotal had a new home with Atlético de Kolkata albeit on loan. In his first season for the Kolkata club, he helped them secure the ISL Trophy in which they defeated Kerala Blasters on penalties. Once again in the 2019-20 season, he won the ISL defeating Chennaiyin FC in the finals. He made his third ISL final appearance in the 2020-21 edition, and fourth one in 2022-23, where he helped Mohun Bagan to win the title. After that season, he departed the club to join the yellow army of Kerala Blasters.

1. Sandesh Jinghan – 4

Sandesh Jhungan might be leading the defence line for many ISL clubs and at times for the blue tigers too, but luck hasn't been leading him at all as he has  unfortunately ended up on the losing side everything.  In the 2014 and 2016 editions with Kerala Blasters, he lost the ISL final both times to ATK. In the 2020-21 season when he joined Mohun Bagan, hoping to finally realise his dream of winning the title but alas, he lost once again in the final and in the 2022-23 season when he was playing for Bengaluru FC he lost in the final one more time.

Cover Credits - ISL Official