ISL 2017: HIDDEN GEMS - Chennaiyin FC are housing some of India's most promising youngsters

CHENNAIYIN FC HAVE BEEN lauded for their consistent performance since the first edition of the Indian Super League. And as time has passed, the franchise has shown leadership in not just trying to win the ISL trophy but also to introduce new talent into the Indian football circuit.

It was in 2016, fresh after their maiden ISL triumph, that they started to sign promising Indian players in their teens on multi-year contracts. And today, that initiative is taking on a larger scale with the franchise finally set to field junior teams in AIFF's national youth leagues.

The franchise's first major success in introducing new talent was Jerry Lalrinzuala. The AIFF Elite Academy graduate and a regular at India U-19 team came to Chennaiyin FC under Marco Materazzi and after a season of consistent game time at DSK Shivajians finally became a regular for Chennaiyin FC, making 13 appearances in ISL 2016. He has even broken into the national team camp.

Jerry's success story is undoubtedly a catalyst for Chennaiyin's eagerness to bleed more youngsters into the highest level of Indian football. And this season there are 3 such promising players in their squad waiting for an opportunity. All of these players have represented India in various age group teams, and got themselves used to the highest level of Indian football, regularly playing for one of the debutant clubs in the I-League.

Let's find out who they are.