Big Problem: Is There No One to Score the Goals for the Indian Football Team?

India's 2-0 loss Against Australia in their AFC Asian Cup opener was a resolute result defensive for the Men in Blue. But attacking-wise, India was horrible, just having one shot on target in the whole game.

Has the Indian football team been improving over the years? Yes! But the Blue Tigers have a massive chink in their armour - They are missing a goalscorer. Sunil Chhetri has an incredible record of 93 goals in 145 appearances for his country. But at 39, he is at the end of his international career and his goalscoring prowess has declined.

Until 2019, Jeje Lalpheklua was being considered by many as the answer to India's goalscoring woes. The Mizo Sniper formed a vital partnership with Sunil Chhetri upfront, scoring 23 goals in 56 appearances for the national team. But a knee injury in 2019 has since forced Jeje to retire from football altogether.

Manvir Singh and Lallianzuala Chhangte are two names that spring up. But both these players have been inconsistent, having a good season followed by a disappointing one. If you look at the 2023/24 ISL goalscorers chart so far, Northeast United's young winger, Parthib Gogoi, has the most goals among the Indian players with just three goals!

Most ISL teams are playing foreigners up front in the number nine role and this hinders the chances for the Indian strikers to grow as they are eventually moved to the wings to accommodate them in the starting XI.

Who will take up the goalscoring mantle for the Blue Tigers in the coming years? Let me know your thoughts...