The Indian Super League (ISL) fantasy matchweek 1 is almost upon us, and the ISL fantasy community will be looking to settle on the all-important matchweek 1 team ahead of the deadline on Thursday.

The ISL Fantasy game has been totally revamped from last season, promising to be bigger and better to mark the tenth season of the ISL.

With plenty of big-name signings, the addition of the 12th team, and a mid-season gap due to the AFC Asian Cup in January, there will be plenty of challenges for fantasy managers to deal with this season.

Mohun Bagan Super Giant’s star striker, Dimitri Petratos, has been priced at ₹11.5Cr, making him the highest-priced fantasy asset for the side. He is followed by Bengaluru FC midfielder Javier Hernandez (₹11Cr) and Kerala Blasters FC’s Adrian Luna (₹10.5Cr).

ISL 2022-23 Golden Boot winner Diego Mauricio and Golden Ball winner Lallianzuala Chhangte are priced at ₹9Cr and ₹10Cr, respectively. Meanwhile, Golden Glove winner Vishal Kaith has been priced at ₹6Cr, making him the highest-priced goalkeeper asset. FC Goa defender Odei Onaindia (₹6.5Cr) holds the distinction of being the highest-priced defender.

Matchweek 1 Deadline: Thursday, September 21 at 06:30 PM IST

Matchweek 1 Matches

Kerala Blasters FC are set to kick off the new season once again, and they will be up against their Southern rivals, Bengaluru FC, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi. This is followed by a blank day.*

Also Read: ISL Fantasy: A beginner’s guide to the brand new game

On Saturday, there will be a double-header with Odisha FC taking on Chennaiyin FC at home, and ISL Cup winners hosting newly-promoted Punjab FC later in the day. On Sunday, ISL League winners Mumbai City FC will be touring to Guwahati to take on NorthEast United FC. Matchweek 1 concludes with East Bengal FC taking on Jamshedpur FC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan on Monday.

*Note: The match between FC Goa and Hyderabad FC, which was scheduled for September 22, has been rescheduled; the revised date for the match will be announced soon.

ISL Fantasy Matchweek 1 Tips

When analyzing the price list of players and creating your team, it’s always important to consider a player’s position within their club rather than the club they play for. It is advisable to target teams with favourable schedules over the first few matchweeks, as this can help managers secure a strong start to the campaign.

Also Read: ISL Fantasy: The best budget options for the 2023-24 season

Several key players, such as Sandesh Jhingan, Sunil Chhetri, Lalchungnunga, Rahul KP, Rahim Ali, etc., will be unavailable for the initial few matchweeks due to their national duty at the Asian Games 2023.

Additionally, with the postponement of the FC Goa vs. Hyderabad FC game, it is crucial not to select any players from these two sides and players who are unavailable due to national team commitments for your starting XI in matchweek 1. However, managers may choose to have them on your bench if you don’t want to use their free transfers to add them to their team later on.

Indian men's squad for the 19th Asian Games (Unavailable for ISL Matchweek 1)

Goalkeepers: Gurmeet Singh, Dheeraj Singh Moirangthem.

Defenders: Sumit Rathi, Narender Gahlot, Deepak Tangri, Sandesh Jhingan, Chinglensana Singh, Lalchungnunga.

Midfielders: Amarjit Singh Kiyam, Samuel James Lyngdoh, Rahul KP, Abdul Rabeeh, Ayush Dev Chhetri, Bryce Miranda, Azfar Noorani, Vincy Barretto.

Forwards: Sunil Chhetri, Rahim Ali, Rohit Danu, Gurkirat Singh, Aniket Jadhav.

ISL Fantasy Matchweek 1 Top Picks

Lallianzuala Chhangte (Mumbai City FC) ₹10Cr

Mumbai City FC's star player was by far the most improved player last season, earning the ISL Golden Ball award for his outstanding performance. He will kick off the season by facing NorthEast United FC in the opening fixture. The Mizo winger amassed eight goal contributions last season when playing away from home.

Also Read: ISL Fantasy: The best premium options for the 2023-24 season

Diego Mauricio (Odisha FC) ₹9Cr

Odisha FC's Mauricio has a penchant for scoring against Chennaiyin FC. The forward netted goals in both legs against the Marina Machans last season. Now, coming off a heavy defeat to MBSG in the AFC Cup, the Juggernauts will be looking to bounce back, and the Brazilian forward could play a pivotal role in this effort.

Dimitri Petratos (Mohun Bagan Super Giant) ₹11.5Cr

MBSG's forward is the second-most-captained player overall, selected by 12% of managers. Petratos was significantly more reliable at the VYBK Stadium during the 2022-23 season, contributing with six goals and five assists in home matches.

ISL Fantasy Matchweek 1 Differentials

Javier Siverio (East Bengal FC) ₹6.5Cr

Selected by only 6% of managers, Siverio is a relatively less-owned player among fantasy managers as of now. The Spaniard proved his worth in the Durand Cup and would like to build on that when they host Jamshedpur FC in their ISL opener.

Dimitrios Diamantakos (Kerala Blasters FC) ₹8.5Cr

With most managers opting for Luna from the KBFC team and selecting forwards from other teams, Diamantakos could be a real steal deal for this week. The Greek forward was on the scoresheet for the Blasters when they defeated Bengaluru FC 3-2 at home last season.