ISL 2017 player draft, as it happened: ATK, Jamshedpur FC and Pune strike big

That’s all folks. If this was a contest, ATK and Jamshedpur have clearly stolen a a march over the rest of them. Bengaluru have found players who could support their forward line, which is led by Sunil Chhetri. Chennaiyin were subdued, Kerala blew hot and cold while NorthEast stuck to their trusted formula of grooming homegrown players.

Pune, just like the years gone by, went big. Let’s hope that their luck changes. If only matches were won on paper.

Midfielder Simranjit Singh is Dynamos’ final pick. ATK have gambled with Shillong Lajong striker Bipin Singh. Mumbai footballer Siddharth Singh is Jamshedpur’s final pick. Goalkeeper Shahinlal Meloly, who played for Chennai City FC in the I-League, will play for the city’s ISL franchise too.

Final picks coming up for the teams: More demand for goalkeepers and Pawan Kumar goes to Pune. Bruno Colaco is Goa’s final pick. Sushil is NorthEast’s second developmental player.

Delhi get their pick and they welcome Arnab Das Sharma. Kunzang Bhutia, another goalkeeper, moves to ATK. Gurpreet Singh will step out for the Highlanders. With goalie Kunal Sawant moving to Mumbai, we enter the final round of the draft.

Goa have swooped in for winger Anthony D’Souza. Chennai get Sanjay Balmuchu. NorthEast make another telling move, get Lalrempuia Fanai.

Wadoo goes to Mumbai City! Quite a scoop for Mumbai. The full-back’s tireless runs down the right flank was instrumental in Chennaiyin’s triumph in 2015.

In case you missed it, Mohammad Rafi, the hero from season one will be a part of Chennayin’s attack this season. Boithang Haokip further enhances Bengaluru’s batting.

Defender Augustin Fernandes will be a part of defending champions ATK’s defence.

Promising forward Sumeet Passi will play for Jamshedpur. Dhanpal Ganesh will be playing for Chennaiyin.

Pune bag striker Baljit Sahni: There goes another big scalp in then way of Pune, who stick to their template of living large and buying big.

Ashutosh Mehta will play for ATK! At lunch, Mehta not evincing interest among the franchises baffled many a football fan and journalist alike. Sheringham and Co put the defender out of his misery.

Off we go: Experienced left-back Biswajit Saha will play for Mumbai City FC. Goalkeeper Abhra Mondal will be in the Bengaluru FC dugour for the season. Goa recruit Jovel Martins.

The final phase of the draft will begin shortly...

Bengaluru FC’s Sunil Chhetri is confused about the marquee player billing in the league, and adds that he won’t celebrate if he scores against Mumbai: “I don’t understand this marquee player concept. If someone is worth 5 lakh but scores 30 goals he’s your marquee player.

If I score against Mumbai City, I will not celebrate. I don’t celebrate usually. I had a great time with them and I was close to everybody there.”

Bengaluru FC owner has something to say about rising star Daniel Lalhlimpuia, “Whether Daniel will play in the ISL is a matter of time. He will be a part of the B team for now. We will go with 17 Indian players in the ISL today. Daniel will play the AFC Cup,” said Mandar Tamhane.

Bengaluru coach Albert Rocha: Disappointed not to keep everybody. I wish I would have kept Eugeneson

End of Round 10. That will be the second break of the day, last round coming up..

ATK, though, will be mighty chuffed with the inclusion of the vastly experienced Robin Singh in their ranks. the reigning champions have, at times, looked slightly toothless going forward. Robin’s link-up play, experience and goals could fix that this season.

ATK lose another trade! Yet again, Chennaiyin are involved in the move. They snap up right back Keenan Almeida. ATK may soon run out of the option to trade.

Meanwhile, Mumbai City FC have bolstered their midfield through Zakeer Mundampara for the season, another smart signing. Pune have roped in Kamaljit Singh, who impressed for Minerva Punjab in the previous season.

ATK are pleased with their new signing, from the looks of it:

Thongkosiem Haokip will get the chance to play alongside Sunil Chhetri as he moves to Bengaluru. Rupert Nongrum also goes to ATK.

Zohmingliana Ralte goes to Bengaluru, David Nghaite to Delhi, Robin Singh to ATK. Sanjiban Ghosh goes to Jamshedpur.

NorthEast United scalp Ravi Kumar, Reagen Singh

Mumbai City FC get Aiborlang Khongjee, Sanju Pradhan: Last year’s semi-finalists scalp the NorthEast United players from last season.

Fulganco Cardozo goes to Chennaiyin while 22-year-old Harpreet Singh will be a part of a star-studded Pune dressing room

Kerala Blasters sign Jackichand Singh There is going to be plenty of pace on the flanks for the two-time runners-up this season.

Jameshedpur spring back to life by recruiting Souvik Ghosh. ATK hit back, they rope in Hitesh Sharma.

Tale of the Fernandes’s – Lenny will represent Bengaluru, Romeo for Delhi.

Tough-as-nails defender Anwar Ali will be playing for ATK, who quietly building up another solid team. Alwyn George goes to Bengaluru and Vinit Rai will be flying to Delhi.

Delhi lose a trade! The player involved in the tug-of-war is Germanpreet Singh, who was picked up by Chennayin. Delhi hit the buzzer but yet again, there is no trade.

Goa’s homegrown contingent grown stronger through Seriton Fernandes. Aizawl star Issac Vanmalsawma goes to Pune.

Let’s hope that defender Abinash Ruidas can put his contract situation at East Bengal behind him when he joins Mumbai City FC. They don’t stop there as Goan Sahil Tavora also goes to Mumbai.

More homegrown talent for NorthEast as Robert Lalthlamuana is re-united with their set-up. Goa make their move: Brandon Fernandes is theirs

Bengaluru FC get Mohun Bagan defender Shubhashish Bose. Delhi add another one to their roster and it’s Pratik Choudhury, their first defensive signing of the season.

Jamshedpur get Bikash Jairu. ATK won’t be cowed down: They sign Shankar Sampingiraj.

KBFC successfully bid for striker Arata Izumi. The side co-owned by Sachin Tendulkar are on a roll since the break. Chennaiyin get Dhanachandra Singh. Nim Dorjee Tamang will play for Pune, and Sana with Goa

More big moves: Milan Singh goes to KBFC, Bikramjit Singh to Chennayin, and the experienced Jewel Raja to Pune City.

NorthEast lose a trade! Smart business from Jameshedpur FC once again as they get Robin Gurung. NorthEast tried to look for a trade but they were as successful with it as the rest of them

Delhi get Seityasen Singh. Keegan Pereira will don the ATK colours this season.

More homegrown talent for NorthEast, they pick up Dika Ralte.

It starts with a bang with as Mumbai scalp Raju Gaikwad. Bengaluru add muscle in the middle of the park through Harmanjot Khabra.

....and, off we go with round five

‘The Indian Spiderman’ Subrata Paul is pleased to be back where it all began for him: “Tata is my root. I spent 4 years there, so many memories. Very happy to be going back there.”

Jamshedpur’s Steve Coppell says his team had their eyes, ears and hands on the buzzer on workhorse Mehtab Hossain, “Mehtab is a devil you know. He plays in a very competitive area of the field but he’s shown great commitment and tenacity. We’re very pleased to get him,” the Englishman said.

NUFC owner John Abraham on Holicharan’s importance to the side, “Holi was choice for retention but when they didn’t, he became first choice for NorthEast.”

The architect of United’s treble winning season of 1999, Teddy Sheringham is mighty pleased with his side, ATK, scalping the big fish, Eugenson. He says: “Eugeneson always our first pick. He dictates the play. We were looking at other players but we got our man.”

Former Bengaluru FC coach Ashley Westwood weighs in about the draft so far. He is full of raise for Rane, “I know the country, have been here. Jayesh Rane is as good as Kean Lewis. Chennaiyin tried to buy off Rane, shows how highly he’s rated.”

End of round 4

Lalchhuanmawaia will be with Pune while Chennayin get back Thoi Singh in their roster.

Loyalty is the buzzword for NUFC as they get Nirmal Chhetri. Pranoy Halder will also be playing at home, with his former colleagues as FC Goa welcome him with open arms.

Delhi will be threat from long-range once again as 30-yard screamer expert Sena Ralte will continue playing for them. The man with the javelin arms, right-back Rahul Bheke, meanwhile, has been picked by Bengaluru.

Chennaiyin lose a trade option Winger Jayesh Rane goes to ATK. The 2015 champions show interest in their former player but no deal was struck, yet again. Another one bites the dust.

Jameshedpur continue building their own version of Galacticos as they pick Souvik Chakraborty

Round 4: Pune lose another trade option! KBFC pick Lalruatthara. Yet again, they run out of luck after pressing the buzzer as the Aizawl star will stay with the two-time finalists. Pune lose their last two trading options.

Jamshedpur make yet another signing – it’s midfielder Mehtab Hossain. Rino Anto will get to play in his home state; Kerala Blasters pick him.

Rising star Lalinzuala Chhangte moves to Delhi Dynamos, U-21 quota but a capped player.

Now, FC Pune City lose a trade! Bengaluru FC pick Lalthuammawia Ralte and Pune slam the buzzer but were unable to finalise a deal. Ralte is with the two-time I-League champions.

The local boy isn’t going anywhere – NorthEast United welcome Holicharan Narzary. Meanwhile, Balwant Singh, one of the most expensive strikers in the draft, moves to Mumbai City.

FC Goa make their first signing of the season, pick Narayan Das.

ATK lose trade option Winger Kean Lewis was picked up by Pune City. ATK immideately called for a trade but a deal wasn’t agreed. Pune get to keep Lewis.

Defender Adil Khan will be playing in FC Pune City colours this season. Pritam Kotal has been roped in by Delhi Dynamos.

Delhi Dynamos pick Albino Gomes while Jamshedpur once again come up with a big scalp. They get veteran goalie Subrata Paul.

Goalkeepers have been in demand for many of the franchises. Six of the eight teams who played last season decided to keep their goalies.

Jameshedpur FC pick Anas

The draft begins: One of the most sought-after players in the roster, Anas Edathodika, is pick no 1.

The longer season will ensure sufficient rest for the players during the season, says Nita Ambani. Let’s hope that is is the case. A glimpse at leagues around the world would tell you that there are no guarantees for the number of people who would walk into the treatment table during the course of a season.

How about this for a selfie? It’s a few minutes past 10.00 am and the draft is all set to get underway.

If you haven’t been keeping up, here’s a detailed explainer for everything you needed to know about the draft.

Hello and welcome to the live updates of the Indian Premier League player draft for the upcoming season. Winger Eugenson Lyngdoh and defender Anas Edathodika are expected to be the biggest draws in the season. For the uninitiated, the 2017 season will feature 10 teams.

Bengaluru FC from the I-League and the newly formed Jamshedpur FC, owned by the Tata group are the new teams. The past few weeks have seen significant developments with the coaching staff of all teams. Manchester United fans will rejoice in the arrival of former striker Teddy Sheringham, who will coach defending champions ATK while Rene Maulensteen, who was an assistant with Sir Alex Ferguson will also be on the touchline, managing Kerala Blasters.

Each club is allowed to retain two players from the previous season and need to have atleast 15 Indian players in their squad. The draft will have a total of 15 rounds. Jamshedpur will get to pick their players first in the first and second rounds. The teams can also retain upto three U-21 players. FC Pune City enter round three. All 10 teams trade off from round four till the conclusion of the draft.

The instant Trading Card allows teams a second chance to trade an already picked player. From the third round onwards, any club may, within 15 seconds of another club announcing its Draft pick, press the buzzer to activate the “Instant Trade” process.