'We Want To Play': Gurpreet Sandhu Demands Indian Super League Revival
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, the captain of the Indian national football team and goalkeeper for Bengaluru FC, has become a leading voice in the growing chorus demanding the immediate resumption of the Indian Super League (ISL). With the league's future hanging in the balance due to a failure to secure a commercial partner, Sandhu, along with other prominent Indian footballers, has taken to social media to express his frustration and urge authorities to resolve the ongoing impasse.
The ISL, India's premier football league, typically commences in September, but the 2025-26 season remains in limbo, causing significant disruption and uncertainty within the Indian footballing community. The current situation stems from the expiration of Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL)'s contract with the All India Football Federation (AIFF) in December 2025 and the subsequent failure to find a new investor.
Sandhu, along with fellow national team players such as Sunil Chhetri and Sandesh Jhingan, issued a joint statement expressing their collective desperation to return to the field. "We, professional footballers who play in the Indian Super League, are coming together to make a plea and, more importantly, to send the message that we stand united in our efforts to get the Indian Super League season underway. To put it simply, we want to play and now," the statement read.
The players' statement further highlighted the emotional toll the delay is taking. "Our anger, frustration, and distress has now been replaced by desperation. Desperation to play the game we love, in front of people who mean everything to us, our families, our fans," they wrote. The footballers appealed to those in charge of Indian football to prioritize resolving the situation and allow the season to commence. "This is a plea to all those involved in running our sport in the country, to do whatever it takes to get the football season underway. India needs its competitive football now more than ever," the statement emphasized.
The absence of competitive football has had a cascading effect, with several ISL clubs reportedly suspending operations and players facing disruptions to their training schedules and salary payments. This has led to a sense of anxiety and uncertainty among players, many of whom have been without competitive matches for months.
Sandhu, a veteran goalkeeper with extensive experience playing both in India and abroad, has been a vocal advocate for the growth and development of Indian football. He began his professional career with East Bengal before playing for Stabaek in Norway, where he made history as the first Indian to play in the UEFA Europa League. Since returning to India and joining Bengaluru FC in 2017, he has consistently been a top performer in the ISL, winning the league title in the 2018-19 season.
Beyond his club career, Sandhu has also been a mainstay for the Indian national team, earning over 80 caps and captaining the side on numerous occasions. His leadership extends beyond the field, as evidenced by his proactive stance in addressing the current crisis in Indian football.
The unified plea from ISL players underscores the urgency of the situation and the potential long-term consequences of a prolonged delay. As Gurpreet Singh Sandhu aptly stated, "We've found ourselves in a very dark tunnel for long. We could do with a little light". The future of the ISL, and indeed Indian football, now hinges on the swift and decisive action of the relevant authorities.
