The Hero Indian Super League (ISL) will return with another new season this time in much more familiar surroundings – among the fans.

After two seasons inside the bio-bubble due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Hero ISL will open its gates to the fans as it shifts back to the home-away format.

The fans are expected to give the games an edge as the teams gear up to fight for the title in a slightly tweaked format.

Unlike previous campaigns, the top six teams will get a shot at winning the trophy in a restructured knockout stage, adding to the drama of the league phase which in the current format is almost sure to go down to the wire.

As we inch closer to kick-off in Hero ISL 2022-23, discussions and debates are in full flow regarding the eventual winners, the potential top six, the Emerging Player, and the Golden Boot and Golden Glove winners.

Plunging into the big debate are our esteemed experts who know it all about the teams, the players and the leagues as they throw their hats in the ring and give their predictions for the season.

The team of experts include Indian legend Jo Paul Ancheri, Indian women’s football team goalkeeper Aditi Chauhan, former ATK FC and Kerala Blasters FC player Darren Caldeira, former Hyderabad FC head coach Phil Brown, former Bengaluru FC midfielder Erik Paartalu, former FC Pune City coach Pradhyum Reddy and Hero ISL expert Paul Masefield.

Here is how they see Hero ISL 2022-23 panning out:

Who will win the League Winners’ Shield?

Expert

Prediction

Aditi Chauhan

Bengaluru FC

Darren Caldeira

Hyderabad FC

Erik Paartalu

Bengaluru FC

Jo Paul Ancheri

Kerala Blasters FC

Paul Masefield

Kerala Blasters FC

Phil Brown

Bengaluru FC

Pradhyum Reddy

Hyderabad FC

 Summary: Bengaluru FC top the charts and are seen favourites to win the League Winners’ Shield this season with three experts voting for them. Last season’s runners-up Kerala Blasters FC are close second along with Hyderabad FC.

Who will be the champions?

Expert

Prediction

Aditi Chauhan

ATK Mohun Bagan

Darren Caldeira

Mumbai City FC

Erik Paartalu

Mumbai City FC

Jo Paul Ancheri

Kerala Blasters FC

Paul Masefield

Bengaluru FC

Phil Brown

Hyderabad FC

Pradhyum Reddy

Hyderabad FC

Summary: We have a split house here with two experts each picking defending champions Hyderabad FC to retain their crown and former champions Mumbai City FC. Bengaluru FC, ATK Mohun Bagan and Kerala Blasters FC are the other teams that are tipped for glory.

Which teams will finish in the top six?

Expert

Prediction

Aditi Chauhan

Bengaluru FC, ATK Mohun Bagan, FC Goa, Jamshedpur FC, Odisha FC and Kerala Blasters FC

Darren Caldeira (in no particular order)

Hyderabad FC, Mumbai City FC, ATK Mohun Bagan, Kerala Blasters FC, Bengaluru FC and Jamshedpur FC

Erik Paartalu

Bengaluru FC, Mumbai City FC, ATK Mohun Bagan, Jamshedpur FC, Hyderabad FC, FC Goa

Jo Paul Ancheri

Kerala Blasters FC, ATK Mohun Bagan, Mumbai City FC, Jamshedpur FC, Bengaluru FC, East Bengal FC

Paul Masefield (in no particular order)

Kerala Blasters FC, Mumbai City FC, ATK Mohun Bagan, Bengaluru FC, Hyderabad FC, FC Goa

Phil Brown

Bengaluru FC, Hyderabad FC, Mumbai City FC, Odisha FC, ATK Mohun Bagan, FC Goa

Pradhyum Reddy

Hyderabad FC, ATK Mohun Bagan, FC Goa, Mumbai City FC, Bengaluru FC, Odisha FC

Summary: This is extremely hard to predict given the intense competition this season. All the experts have picked Bengaluru FC and ATK Mohun Bagan to finish in the top six. Six experts have tipped Mumbai City FC to finish in the top six while five of the experts have Hyderabad FC and FC Goa in their potential top six.

Last year’s league winners Jamshedpur FC are in four of the expert’s predicted top six while Odisha FC are tipped by two experts to make the top six this season.

Who will win the Golden Boot award?

 

The Golden Boot award is given to the players that scored the most number of goals in the season. In case of a tie, the player who has the best goals per minute ratio wins the prize.

Expert

Prediction

Aditi Chauhan

Alvaro Vazquez (FC Goa)

Darren Caldeira

Bartholomew Ogbeche (Hyderabad FC)

Erik Paartalu

Roy Krishna (Bengaluru FC)

Jo Paul Ancheri

Bartholomew Ogbeche (Hyderabad FC)

Paul Masefield

Roy Krishna (Bengaluru FC)

Phil Brown

Bartholomew Ogbeche (Hyderabad FC)

Pradhyum Reddy

Roy Krishna (Bengaluru FC)

Summary: It’s a two-way split with three experts each going for Bartholomew Ogbeche and Roy Krishna. Aditi Chauhan has stuck her neck out and picked FC Goa’s Alvaro Vazquez.

Who will win the Golden Glove award?

The Golden Glove award is won by the goalkeeper that has kept the most clean sheets in the season. In case of a tie, the goalkeeper that has conceded the fewest amount of goals wins. If the tie continues to exist, the goalkeeper with a higher minutes per goal conceded ratio wins the prize.

Expert

Prediction

Aditi Chauhan

Prabhsukhan Singh Gill (Kerala Blasters FC)

Darren Caldeira

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (Bengaluru FC)

Erik Paartalu

TP Rehenesh (Jamshedpur FC)

Jo Paul Ancheri

Prabhsukhan Singh Gill (Kerala Blasters FC)

Paul Masefield

Prabhsukhan Singh Gill (Kerala Blasters FC)

Phil Brown

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (Bengaluru FC)

Pradhyum Reddy

Gurpreet Singh Sandhu (Bengaluru FC)

Summary: Once again it’s an equal split between Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Prabhsukhan Singh Gill. Jamshedpur FC’s TP Rehenesh is Erik Paartalu’s predicted pick for the Golden Glove award.

Who will be the Hero of the League?

The Hero of the League is the award given to the best player in the league. Greg Stewart who played for Jamshedpur FC last season won the prize in Hero ISL 2021-22 season.

Expert

Prediction

Darren Caldeira

Adrian Luna (Kerala Blasters FC)

Erik Paartalu

Greg Stewart (Mumbai City FC)

Jo Paul Ancheri

Adrian Luna (Kerala Blasters FC)

Paul Masefield

Greg Stewart (Mumbai City FC)

Phil Brown

Joel Chianese (Hyderabad FC)

Pradhyum Reddy

Dimitri Petratos (ATK Mohun Bagan)

Summary: Adrian Luna and Greg Stewart are seen as frontrunners for the prize by the experts but some interesting picks in Joel Chianese and ATK Mohun Bagan's new signing Dimitri Petratos make this list very interesting.

Who will be Emerging Player of the Season?

 

The Emerging Player of the season award is given to the best young player in the league. Bengaluru FC’s Roshan Naorem won the prize in the Hero ISL 2021-22 campaign.

Expert

Prediction

Aditi Chauhan

Lalchungnunga Chhangte (Hyderabad FC)

Darren Caldeira

Lalchungnunga Chhangte (Hyderabad FC)

Erik Paartalu

Faisal Ali (Bengaluru FC)

Jo Paul Ancheri

Sivasakthi Narayanan (Bengaluru FC)

Paul Masefield

Vincy Barretto (Chennaiyin FC)

Phil Brown

Akash Mishra (Hyderabad FC)

Pradhyum Reddy

Sivasakthi Narayanan (BFC) or Ayush Chhetri (FCG)

Summary: Sivasakthi Narayanan who scored five goals in the Durand Cup and Lalchungnunga Chhangte of Hyderabad FC are the favoured picks.

Who will be the surprise package of the season?

In this category, experts pick a team or a player or any other metric that could surprise us come the end of the season.

Expert

Prediction

Aditi Chauhan

Lalchungnunga Chhangte (Hyderabad FC)

Darren Caldeira

Lalchungnunga Chhangte (Hyderabad FC)

Erik Paartalu

Romain Philippoteaux (NorthEast United FC)

Jo Paul Ancheri

East Bengal FC

Paul Masefield

Odisha FC

Phil Brown

Odisha FC

Pradhyum Reddy

Odisha FC, Iker Guarrotxena, Ashique Kuruniyan

Summary: Three experts expect Odisha FC to upset the pecking order this season. Two experts have put their bet on young Chhangte to emerge as the surprise package with NorthEast United FC’s Romain Philippoteaux also making the list.

Jo Paul Ancheri believes East Bengal FC could make a real impact this season and who would want to doubt the legend.

What do you think about the Hero ISL 2022-23 season? Send in your prediction on our Twitter and Instagram handles.

Related tags:

2022-2023