With each of the ten franchises having played ten matches, the Hero Indian Super League (ISL) is heading towards an exciting conclusion. The battle for a position in the top half of the table heating up, and we take a look at the players who have contributed to their teams in the form of playmakers, creating chances for the strikers to finish off.There are certain players in a team who are considered ‘assist specialists’, providing that final killer ball, the pinpoint cross or the slick one-two to finish off attacking moves. Perhaps a creative midfielder, a deep-lying forward or a traditional winger with an eye for a pass. But the ISL has thrown up a different set of players in the mix, defenders and forwards in particular, who for the collective good of the team have lent a hand in getting goals.Leading the charts is the ISL’s first Indian goal-scorer, Balwant Singh, of Chennaiyin FC. The Punjabi lad has scored just the one goal, in Chennaiyin’s first game, but has contributed to the team with three assists. He is followed by nine other players completing the top ten, all on two assists, but separated by the minutes played.Balwant Singh is primarily a forward, but has seen himself in good positions all around the box, with the attacking players Chennaiyin have at their disposal. In nine games, Singh has provided 3 assists in 564 minutes of play, an average of one assist per 188 minutes played. Coupled with his goal, it’s a healthy goal/assist every other match he plays.Next in the charts is FC Pune City’s Davide Colomba, the forward topping the remainder of the group because he has spent less time on the field. In five outings, Colomba has provided two assists for Pune in 370 minutes, which is an average of an assist per 185 minutes. He too has a goal to his name and thus has a slight advantage over Singh. It would have been interesting to see how the two would go head to head if they had completed the same amount of minutes on the field.Third in the chart is Indian winger Clifford Miranda, from FC Goa. The Indian international has played six games, completing 231 minutes on the field and providing two assists. That makes him a more efficient provider, with an assist every 116 minutes on the ground. But Miranda has not been able to nail a consistent spot in the lineup due to the emergence of Mandar Rao Desai, the young winger from Goa.Rounding up the top five is another Goan, André Santos, with two assists in 541 minutes, and Fikru Teferra of Atlético de Kolkata, with two assists in 718 minutes, to go along with his tally of four goals. To further see player contributions, click here.
