Sandesh Jhingan reaches 100 Hero ISL appearances
ATK Mohun Bagan’s Sandesh Jhingan returned to the club to carry on from where he left despite his recent setbacks and injuries. In the match against FC Goa in Hero Indian Super League (ISL), Jhingan crossed the 100 appearances tally, becoming the 11th player and the 7th defender to reach this milestone.
On his return, Jhingan arrived on the pitch for the first time when he came on as a substitute for Prabir Das at the beginning of the second half. He had 25 touches after coming on and helped ATK Mohun Bagan prevent the Highlanders from scoring their second of the game.
The defender has started in 97 of his 99 matches. His substitute appearance against the Highlanders in the last match was only the 2nd of his Hero ISL career speaks volumes of his fitness and belief the coaches have shown in him over the years.
A majority of his appearances came while representing Kerala Blasters FC – 76 out of 100 – holding the record most appearances for the club in the Hero ISL.
Jhingan was adjudged to be Emerging Player of the Year in the first season of the Hero ISL (2014) while playing for Kerala Blasters FC and since then he has never looked back, making 622 clearances in his career in the Hero ISL which is the most by an Indian in this competition. Tiri is the only player to have made more clearances in the Hero ISL.
Jhinghan has had a resounding career so far of breaking and making records with an eye to achieve more and the next will be to help his side clinch the Hero ISL League Shield and title trophy.