New six-team playoffs in Indian Super League from next season

It has been reported that the ninth season of the Hero Indian Super League could see six teams competing in the playoff stages. Till the 2021-22 season, the top four teams qualified for the playoffs where they faced each other in the two-leg semi-final format.

As per the current format, the team which finished at the top of the points table after the league stage clinched the Hero ISL Winners Shield. The number one ranked team then took on the fourth-placed team in the semifinal whereas the second ranked side took on the third positioned team.

Earlier, there were eight teams that competed in the Hero Indian Super League. Now there are a total of 11 teams in the competition, which lasts for almost five months.

According to a report in the Times of India, the ISL technical committee has given a green signal to the six-team playoff concept in the tournament for the Hero ISL 2022-23 season.

According to the new format, the top two teams will directly qualify for the semifinal stages. Subsequently, the third-placed team will face the sixth-ranked side while the fourth and fifth-positioned teams in the standings will face each other in an Eliminator contest. The teams which will win will advance to the semifinals to join the top two teams and then they will play two-leg matches at home and away stadiums.

“When the ISL kicked off, there were eight teams, half of which qualified for the playoffs. Since then three new teams have been added, while the playoff format has remained the same. With ISL expected to expand in the future, this new format will provide more opportunities for the participating clubs,” a source close to the development told TOI.

“That’s understandable. Qualifying for the playoffs is getting tougher with each passing season and nobody is really assured of a place among the top four. It’s competitive, so if there are more spots to fight for, I don’t think the clubs would object,” TOI quoted a club member who attended the meeting.

“This is a win-win situation. There is now an incentive for clubs to finish one and two. The top team gets AFC Champions League spot, besides prize money of Rs 3.5 crore, while the second-placed teams get a direct playoff spot, without having to go through a tricky qualifier. Even five and six remain in contention for the ISL trophy,” another club official told TOI.