Jo Paul Ancheri feels ISL is responsible for India's rise in International level

09/25/2019

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Former Indian skipper Jo Paul Ancheri has said that the Indian Super League is the prime reason for the national team pulling out some of its greatest results in recent times. After a win over Thailand in early this year, India held heavyweights Qatar in the World Cup Qualifiers a few days ago.

With the Indian Super League entering its sixth edition this year, it has been one of the most important football tournaments in the country. Almost all the top international players of India are now a part of this league. Now, former India international Ancheri has claimed that the positive performance against strong teams like Qatar, Thailand and China were results of Indians brushing shoulders with quality foreign players in the ISL.

"Earlier, you had a few quality foreign players. But with Hero ISL, a lot of big foreign names started coming and a momentum was created. Why do you think the Indian team is playing good football? It is because good players are coming here and the competition is tough and the Indians are also improving as they look to compete with the best," said Ancheri during a recent interview with IANS.

Ancheri mostly played with top clubs like Mohun Bagan and East Bengal during his playing days and was an instrumental figure in the national side during the late ’90s. He feels that the level of competition involved in the ISL has bolstered India’s performance in the international stage.

"That contest in the Hero ISL prepares the Indian players to face any other country. According to me, that is why we did so well against Qatar," added the two-time AIFF Player of the Year.

India is scheduled to play its next 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Bangladesh on October 15, in Kolkata.