Sandesh Jhingan

Sandesh Jhingan

Sandesh Jhingan is an Indian professional footballer. He plays as centre back for the Indian Super League club ATK Mohun Bagan and the India national team. He won the AIFF emerging player of the year award in 2014 and debuted for the national side in 2015. Currently he holds the record for the most number of appearances for Kerala Blasters.

About Sandesh Jhingan in brief

Summary Sandesh JhinganSandesh Jhingan is an Indian professional footballer. He plays as centre back for the Indian Super League club ATK Mohun Bagan and the India national team. He won the AIFF emerging player of the year award in 2014 and debuted for the national side in 2015. He received Arjuna Award in 2020 for his outstanding achievement in sports. Currently he holds the record for the most number of appearances for Kerala Blasters. He was rejected by many second and third division clubs in Kolkata during his early career. He has also represented the Chandigarh state team at the under-19 level, helping them win the B. C. Roy Trophy. He also played in the South-East Asian finals of the Manchester United Premier Cup with United Sikkim in 2012. He made his senior professional debut in the I-League on 6 October 2012 in United SikKim’s first match of the season against Salgaocar. He then scored his second goal for the club on 18 November 2012 against Sporting Goa. In November 2013 it was reported that he had signed with Rangdajied United on loan. However, not long after, it was announced that Jhinga had instead signed for Mumbai for the rest of the I League campaign. On 22 July 2014, a day after his 21st birthday, he was selected in the second round of the 2014 ISL Inaugural Domestic Draft by the Kerala Blaster. He appeared on the bench for the side in their opening match against North United United.

He started the Blasters in their second match against Chennaiyin in the Super League Final against Atlético de Kolkatta. Despite putting in a valiant performance, he could not prevent the side from losing 2–1. On 20 December 2014, he started the Keralablasters in the 2014 Indian Super League final against Atléte de Kolo. Despite not playing in the first match, he helped the side earn a point in the final. He played 14 times for the KeralaBlasters throughout the 2014 season, appearing 14 times in all competitions. He is also a member of the India Under-19 team and the Indian Under-21 side. He helped his state side reach the South East Asian finals of the Manchester United Premier Cup in 2012 and 2013. In February 2013 he was reported to be receiving interest from Chinese League One clubs and that he would had to go to China for trials. He did not attend trials because he was called up to the India national team. In March 2013, he signed a contract with IMG–Reliance to eventually be part of the Indian Super League which was to start in 2014. In April 2013, JhingAn was selected for the India Under-19 team for the Under 19 tournament against Chennaiyin. In May 2013 he played in a friendly match against the Rajasthan City. In August 2013 he made his debut for India under-19s in the South-East Asian finals of the Manchester United Premier Cup.