It's been a standout Indian Super League (ISL) season for Mumbai City FC's forward Vikram Partap Singh. The Punjab-born player is experiencing his best season to date, with eight goals and three assists across 21 appearances for the Islanders.

Singh's performance has flourished since Petr Kratky took over as head coach in December. He has played as both a centre-forward and a winger, and notably, all of his goals this season have come under Kratky's leadership.

With eight goals this season, Singh has surpassed his total from the previous three seasons with Mumbai City FC, during which he scored five times.

“In India, the front three must be comfortable to play in any of the attacking positions,” he said in an interview with Scroll.

He continued, “Because it’s difficult for you to be put in as the striker. Mostly all the Indian strikers play as wingers.”

Throughout his playing career, Vikram Partap Singh maintained a meaningful pre-match and post-match ritual: he always spoke with his father, a former footballer, before and after every game. This tradition was a source of strength and comfort for Singh. But in January, tragedy struck when his father passed away unexpectedly from a silent heart attack.

Despite the loss, Singh remains committed and determined to keep his father's legacy alive through his own achievements on the field for Mumbai City FC and the Indian national team.

When asked about his father’s passing away, Singh stated that he still has not been able to cope with the tragic event.

“I still haven’t handled it," he said.

"It was very difficult for me because I started playing football because of him. More than scoring goals, I used to be happy because I would speak to him after the match," he added. 

Singh spoke about the profound influence his late father, a former footballer, had on his journey in football. His father’s guidance and support played a crucial role in shaping Singh’s career.

Singh started his football journey at the Chandigarh Football Academy before representing Minerva Punjab FC. His talent quickly became evident, leading to a 2018 signing with Indian Arrows in the I-League. Over two seasons with Indian Arrows, Singh’s performances garnered attention, paving the way for his move to the ISL with Mumbai City FC. The impact of his father remains a central inspiration in Singh's continuing success on the field.

He shared, “My father played all his football within the state, so he had a dream for me to make it big outside Punjab."

Although Mumbai City FC missed out on the League Shield after losing to Mohun Bagan Super Giant in their final league game of the season, Vikram Partap Singh still made headlines by finishing the league stage as a joint-top scorer with seven goals. Remarkably, six of those goals were scored after the passing of his father, demonstrating his resilience and determination.

Singh also achieved a notable milestone in the ISL, becoming the second-youngest Indian player to score a hat-trick. His consistent performance continued in Wednesday's first-leg semi-final against FC Goa, where he scored as part of Mumbai City FC's dramatic comeback victory.

Over his last five matches, Singh has either scored or provided an assist, proving his value to the team. His contributions highlight why he remains a key player for Mumbai City FC this season as they chase the ISL Cup. 

He said, “I’m still the same player I was three months ago when I was not scoring,” 

“Just because I have scored a few goals doesn’t mean I have matured. There’s still a lot to learn. That feeling, that I have scored so now I can relax, I need to get rid of that.” he added.