Top five bargain buys of ISL Fantasy 2016As Hero Indian Super League 2016 prepares to take the nation by storm, don’t miss out on the chance to don the manager’s hat yourself. Last season’s ISL Fantasy League saw over 35 thousand registrations and 25 thousand teams. With the upcoming season expected to be bigger than ever as the who’s who of the footballing world descend upon India, indiansuperleague.com take a look at ISL Fantasy League 2016’s best bargain buys.Bikash Jairu (Atlético de Kolkata): Rs 6 croreIf we go by Bikash Jairu’s numbers last season, it’s easy to understand why he is not one of the more popular picks in this season’s ISL Fantasy League. But stats don’t always paint a clear picture. What his Hero ISL 2015 numbers don’t say is that he was often one of the brightest sparks in an otherwise ailing FC Pune City side that finished second from bottom. His move to Atlético de Kolkata ahead of the new season will surely benefit the tricky winger who made his debut for India after some strong displays for the Stallions. Priced at just Rs 6 crore, Jairu is surely a safe bet to score a lot of points for your fantasy team without eating too much into your budget.Rafael Coelho (FC Goa): Rs 7 croreAlthough he just played five times for FC Goa last year, the impact made by Rafael Coelho upon his introduction to the Gaurs was all noticeable. An absolute livewire on the pitch, many Gaurs fans will tell you that had he been fit and available more often for Zico, it could very well have been their season. A defender’s nightmare, Coelho earned his side three penalties last year and was difficult to contain. He also scored two times and was always in the thick of things. After a full pre-season with FC Goa in the build-up to Hero ISL 2016, the gifted Brazilian attacker is surely a steal at just Rs 7 crore.Raphael Augusto (Chennaiyin FC): Rs 6.5 croreThe pulse in the engine-room of Chennaiyin FC’s midfield, Raphael Augusto wielded massive influence at the centre of the park for the Super Machans. One of the first names if not the first on Marco Materazzi’s team-sheet, Augusto controlled matches from his deep-lying midfield position with his incredible range of passing and vision for a killer pass. Chennaiyin FC’s chief midfield orchestrator made a total of 588 passes with a success rate of 83%. His ability to cover every blade of grass on the pitch saw him make 20 blocks, 22 interceptions and 22 clearances. Augusto also scored once and made an incredible 66 tackles in 12 games last year. His prowess in defence and in attack will surely be a massive bonus for your fantasy team, especially when taking into consideration that he is just Rs 6.5 crore.Nirmal Chettri (NorthEast United FC): Rs 4.5 croreAfter two seasons with Kerala Blasters FC, Nirmal Chettri will be returning home to join NorthEast United FC for Hero ISL 2016. An all-action defender who simply loves to get his foot into a tackle, Chettri can be expected to leave more than his fair share of bruises on opposition attackers. With the Highlanders’ unique policy in place to facilitate their local talent, Chettri is certain to see more game time this year. He also has the knack of getting on the score-sheet every now and again, which definitely makes him a smart choice for your fantasy team at only Rs 4.5 crore.Sena Ralte (Mumbai City FC): Rs 4.5 croreSena Ralte will be joining Mumbai City FC as a Hero ISL champion having made six appearances for Chennaiyin FC last year. The buccaneering full-back is confident on the ball and is more than capable of playing it out of defence. He has a wicked left foot and is capable of providing mouth-watering crosses from wide areas for his strikers to get on the end of. Ralte’s ability to contribute both in attack and defence as well as him being Mumbai City FC’s most likely first choice left-back option makes his addition to your fantasy team at just Rs 4.5 crore a no-brainer.
