Introduction to Indian Sports
On April 28, a 14-year-old cricket player made headlines worldwide for being the youngest player to score 100 runs in the Indian Premier League (IPL). This achievement is a significant landmark in the sports world. The Indian cricket team has been producing many young talents, and the IPL, founded in 2008, attracts the best of the sport. However, the situation is different for football fans in the country. The head coach of the football team had to recall a 40-year-old striker, Sunil Chhetri, from international retirement due to a lack of talented players.
A Need for Heroes
The decision to recall Chhetri triggered a debate in the media and among fans. Experts point out that India lacks talented strikers who can score goals. The country has a problem with developing young players, with some only settling into the system at the age of 25. Compared to cricket, there is a lack of young players in football. The national team recently broke into the top 100 in the FIFA rankings for the first time since 2018. The pressure to perform could explain why Chhetri was recalled.
The Structure of Cricket and Football
Cricket has a well-structured system that allows young players to develop their talents and get opportunities to play. In contrast, football lacks a similar structure. The Indian Super League (ISL) started with eight teams in 2014 and became the top level of Indian football in 2022. However, it still lags behind the IPL in terms of popularity and financial resources. The ISL needs to develop a system that identifies and nurtures young talents. Tom Byer, a renowned expert in youth development in Asian football, believes that India needs a national strategy that focuses on developing young players from the age of seven.
Developing Young Talents
Byer emphasizes that India has 180 million children under the age of seven, but there is no national strategy to develop their football skills. He believes that India needs to create a football culture that starts at home, rather than relying on foreign trainers or imported systems. The ISL clubs need to invest in player development, but they lack the financial resources to do so. The league’s commercial side is weak, and clubs are unable to invest in youth talent.
Leagues Apart
The IPL is one of the richest sports leagues in the world, with a valuation of over 14.5 billion euros. In contrast, the ISL’s valuation is significantly lower, with a reported reserve of around 59 million euros in 2023. The IPL teams have more resources to invest in player development, which gives them an edge over ISL teams. Owen Coyle, a former head coach of the English Premier League, believes that ISL teams need to invest in youth development and explore the talents of young players at an early age.
Money Talks
The financial disparity between the IPL and ISL is a significant hurdle for Indian football. The ISL teams need large stakeholders and investments to develop their youth teams. However, the lack of financial resources hinders their ability to compete with the IPL teams. The ISL needs to find ways to increase its revenue and attract more investors to develop the sport.
A Football Star
Despite the challenges, there is still hope for India to succeed in football. The country needs to identify and develop young talents who can compete at the global level. If a 14-year-old Indian player is identified as a great talent by global giants, it could change the landscape of Indian football. The attention and investment would pour in, and the sport could explode in popularity. India needs to create a system that develops young players and gives them opportunities to play at the highest level. With the right strategy and investment, India can produce a football star who can compete with the best in the world.
