The ISL has come a long way since its inception back in 2013, with an ever-growing legion of supporters and some high-quality foreign talents. It was no less than a dream to witness our people learn and even play at par with players like this, and the ISL quickly catapulted into a beloved league throughout the nation. As it grew, some franchises moved in and out of the league that began with 8 playing states. The IPL had paved the way for success with its 8-team formula and it seemed to be working for the ISL too, with high-intensity matches garnering more and more viewers.
Fans weren’t just supporting their respective teams, they were tuning in for matches that would entertain, and with a tight and crisp two-month schedule, it seemed to be the answer to India’s lack of quality football entertainment. In 2017 though, they increased the team total to 10, in 2020 to 11 and with the I-league winner promotion rule in place, this year saw 12 teams partaking in the tournament. What was a 2-month tournament has now stretched to a half-a-year tournament with FIFA-mandated gaps in between. A tournament especially of football expanding isn’t new to the fans, with the decorated Premier League spanning close to 10 months with a whopping 380 matches. The inception of new teams brings more opportunities to a lot more talents in India and could lead to the overall development of the state of football in the country. But what about the fans?
One of the reasons a league like PL works is because of the dedicated fanbase that teams have built over the years along with the premium quality of players that the league produces. The ISL is on its starting legs and can’t garner either of these and what the focus should be on is to get more people invested in the game. A longer format means it’s harder for people to keep up and dedicatedly support the league, and adding the long gaps in between some fixtures people who were watching might lose interest as well. This could see the ISL lose the charm it began with and lose the fanbase that it had built so meticulously. So is the legacy being eroded by the league’s grandiose plans?
It is a gamble, and it isn’t one that doesn’t come with its rewards. The PL got to where it is because it took its time to establish itself, and the ISL could over time build a dedicated fanbase that would keenly follow the course of a longer format. But the roads are steeper than imaginable, and with established leagues already dominating the football audience, it won’t be easy to disrupt the market. But even if it can’t, the ISL should still pride itself on trying to establish a format in such a way that accentuates growth for the country’s football, and with our current ranking of a career-best 99th, it is safe to say that the impact is unquestionable. The fans may have to hold on, and the ISL might lose some in the process, but with the progress that we’ve seen and with what lies ahead, it may just be worth it.
