In the ISL (Indian Super League) there’s lots of potential when it comes to goalkeepers. Fans of football will tell you that all teams playing in our country’s league depend on the goalkeeper’s vital role of preventing goals going into the back of their net!
In this article we take a look at the official statistics released by the All India Football Federation to see who are the best legends to ever go in goal. Join us as we also identify the most promising goalies in the league.
Leading Goalkeeper: Vishal Kaith
A top legend of the game who currently holds the title of best goalkeeper in ISL has to be Vishal Kaith.
In the 2024/25 season he won the league’s Golden Glove after having kept 15 clean sheets – a record for any ISL season. This impressive record also meant that he became the first Indian to achieve 50 clean sheets in ISL history.
Here are some reasons why Kaith is a superb goalkeeper:
- Defensive organisation: Kaith commands the penalty area and organises the defensive line through the chemistry with his teammates;
- Agility and reflexes: Kaith is really agile and his lightning-fast reflexes allow him to cover the goal and make some really good saves;
- Reading the game: Occupying the role of a sweeper keeper means Kaith can quickly read dangerous situations and faces opponents who cross the high defensive line.
Hailing from Himachal Pradesh, the shot-stopper has been a mainstay for Mohun Bagan Super Giant since 2022, turning the Mariners’ fortress into an impregnable stronghold. In the 2024/25 ISL season he made an astonishing 75 saves.
Other Top Goalkeepers to Watch
Vishal Kaith is generally regarded as the top keeper in the ISL – but he’s not the only one racking up the headlines. There are quite a few other talented keepers who are pushing him for the top spot.
We took a closer look at the stats and picked out five other goalies who are worth keeping an eye on:
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu
Born in February 1992, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu is the ace shot-stopper for ISL club Bengaluru and also happens to be the captain of the Indian national team.
Gurpreet Singh Sandhu joined Bengaluru FC back in August 2017 where he made a big impact. He kept a clean sheet on his ISL debut and played a major role in getting Bengaluru to the 2017-18 final. He then finished that season with an impressive seven clean sheets.
Here’s what Sandhu’s 2024/25 season looked like:
| Club | Games Played | Clean Sheets | Goals Conceded | Total Saves |
| Bengaluru FC | 26 | 8 | 33 | 82 |
Sandhu was certainly a key part of Bengaluru’s 4th place finish during that season (especially with an average of three saves per game and 22 clearances).
Amrinder Singh
Odisha FC’s Amrinder Singh is one of India’s most dependable goalkeepers with a ton of experience in the Indian Super League. He’s been a part of top clubs like Mumbai City FC and is currently the Indian national football team Number 1.
Here’s a look at how Singh performed during the 2024/25 ISL:
| Club | Games Played | Clean Sheets | Goals Conceded | Total Saves |
| Odisha FC | 24 | 4 | 37 | 82 |
Singh demonstrated his capabilities as a shot-stopper with 14 catches and 22 clearances.
This was despite Odisha finishing the league in 7th place
Rehenesh T. P.
TP Rehenesh is a super experienced Indian keeper who really knows his stuff. He’s got a knack for agility and can think on his feet. This goalkeeper has been a mainstay in the Indian Super League for clubs like NorthEast United and Jamshedpur FC.
In 2024/25 his performance was:
| Club | Games Played | Clean Sheets | Goals Conceded | Total Saves |
| Mumbai City FC | 7 | 2 | 8 | 13 |
Rehenesh has a reputation for being one of the most reliable keepers in the league. People really rate his game sense and ability to stay calm under pressure. That’s why he’s still such a key player for his team.
Subrata Paul
Subrata Paul is an Indian former professional goalkeeper seen as one of the country’s top players. He has had over 220 appearances in total with several teams in India.
Here is how this goalkeeper performed in his last season (back in 2020/21):
| Club | Games Played | Clean Sheets | Goals Conceded | Total Saves |
| Mohun Bagan | 10 | 2 | 18 | 21 |
Subrata Paul is seen as one of the best athletes in the country. In 2016 the government of India awarded him the Arjuna Award for Outstanding Performances in Sports and Games.
Arindam Bhattacharya
This goalkeeper (who last played in the ISL in the 2022/23 season) spent over two decades between the posts.
Here’s how he fared in his last season in the ISL:
| Club | Games Played | Clean Sheets | Goals Conceded | Total Saves |
| Inter Kashi | 10 | 0 | 30 | 34 |
It’s safe to say that Bhattacharya’s farewell to the ISL was a decent one with 99 recoveries and an average of 3 saves per game.
Who Will India’s Next Top Goalie Be?
Vishal Kaith and the goalkeepers on our Top 5 list make the Indian Super League more exciting to watch. These players have made a significant impact on football in India with their consistent performances and match-winning saves.
Each goalkeeper that is a part of the Indian Super League has raised the bar. They also inspire rising goalkeeping talents that are playing to improve the level of football in India.
We can all certainly look forward to potential rival goalkeepers to Vishal Kaith next season and seasons to follow!
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