As the Indian Super League (ISL) gears up for its highly anticipated 2024-2025 season, all eyes are on the new campaign titled ‘Agla Hero Kaun?’
The campaign, driven by Indian football legends Sunil Chhetri and Bhaichung Bhutia, aims to fuel the passion of football enthusiasts while searching for the next breakout star in Indian football. Kicking off on Friday, September 13th, the season will feature 13 clubs, including the iconic Kolkata-based teams Mohun Bagan Super Giant, East Bengal FC, and Mohammedan Sporting Club.
The ISL’s campaign is designed as a celebration of Indian sports culture, bringing together athletes from various fields to show support for the country’s next football hero. Besides football icons, the campaign features sporting legends like PV Sindhu, Manu Bhaker, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, PR Sreejesh, and IM Vijayan, alongside ISL team owners John Abraham and Ranbir Kapoor. This star-studded lineup collectively rallies behind the movement to inspire young footballers to take the spotlight in the nation’s most-watched football league.
As football’s most revered icons, Sunil Chhetri and Bhaichung Bhutia bring invaluable insight into the campaign. Highlighting some promising players, Bhutia mentioned, “Lallianzuala Chhangte, Sivasakthi Narayanan, and Kiyan Nassiri are among the young talents I expect to shine this season. They’ve shown tremendous potential.”
Chhetri, offering advice to young players, said, “If you want to be the next hero, focus on enjoying the game. Don’t let the pressure overwhelm you. Play for the love of football, not because of external expectations.” His words reflect the essence of the campaign, encouraging emerging footballers to embrace the sport with passion, free from distractions.
Actor and NorthEast United FC owner, John Abraham, also weighed in on his choice for the next football hero: “Parthib Gogoi is phenomenal. His abilities, from shot-taking to decision-making, are beyond exceptional. He’s better than some of the international strikers in the league, and I truly believe he is the Agla Hero.”
To deepen the connection with regional fans, two localized versions of the campaign have been launched in football-centric regions—Kolkata and Kerala.
In Kolkata, the campaign is spearheaded by captains of the city’s three major clubs: Subhasish Bose of Mohun Bagan Super Giant, Cleiton Silva of East Bengal FC, and Samad Ali Mallick of Mohammedan Sporting Club. Each of these leaders represents the heart and soul of Kolkata’s football tradition, inspiring the next generation to step up and make their mark.
Meanwhile, in Kerala, the campaign is fronted by hockey icon PR Sreejesh and football legend IM Vijayan, paying tribute to the state’s rich football heritage. Kerala’s football pride and passion are highlighted in every stride of this campaign, showcasing the enduring love for the game.
The ISL 2024-2025 season will kick off with a thrilling opening match on September 13, 2024, between Mohun Bagan Super Giant, last season’s ISL League Winners, and Mumbai City FC, the ISL Cup Champions. The match will take place at Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata, starting at 7:30 PM IST.
Football fans can catch the live action of the ISL 2024-2025 season on JioCinema, with streaming available in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Malayalam. For TV viewers, matches will be broadcast on Sports 18-3 in multiple languages, including English, Hindi, Bengali, and Malayalam. Asianet Plus will also air the games in Malayalam. In addition, select matches will be available on Sports 18-1, Sports 18-2, and Sports 18-Khel.
