Football News: Top ISL teams who are  favourites to win Durand Cup 2022

The 131st edition of The Durand Cup started on August 16, 2022. FC Goa opened the tournament against Mohammedan SC at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata.

The current edition features 20 teams, including 11 Indian Super League (ISL) clubs. With ISL being the most popular tournament in the Indian football calendar, the top ISL clubs are fan favourites in the 2022 Durand Cup!

Kerala Blasters FC 

They're unmatched regarding their fan following on social media in Indian Football. They have been finalists in the ISL but have failed to win the coveted league.

This year, they have been drawn in Group D alongside Odisha FC and Northeast FC but couldn't finish as table toppers in the group stage. However, they won two matches, lost one, and drew one. 

They entered the quarter-finals of the league and then lost to Mohammedan FC. Despite its dry run, the club has the most significant fan base across all the country's social media platforms. The club fan group Manjappada is a structured and far-reaching community in Kerala. 

The club has fan communities in foreign nations as well. As more prospects await them this year, they will aim to keep their glory afloat through an improved run in upcoming tournaments. 

Chennaiyin FC

Chennaiyin FC is undoubtedly one of the most accomplished sides in the Indian Super League (ISL), having won the league on two occasions in the 2015 and 2017–18 seasons, respectively.

They were also runners-up in the 2019-20 edition. In the Durand Cup, they finished second in Group C, trailing Hyderabad FC by two points. Despite entering the quarter-finals, they lost to Mumbai City FC. 

Co-owned by Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan, MS Dhoni, and Vita Dani, it has a strong community in Chennai, a crowd that is devoted to Indian football. Chennaiyin FC, one of the most decorated clubs in Indian football, has also won the I-League twice. 

ATK Mohun Bagan 

ATK Mohun Bagan FC was formed as a merger between the football section of Mohun Bagan AC and ATK FC. They have been playing as ATK Mohun Bagan FC since the 2020–21 season and were runners-up in the same season. 

ATK has been the most successful team in the history of the ISL, having won three titles. They won their latest title in the 2019-20 edition, defeating Chennaiyin FC in the final. 

Mohun Bagan also secured the I-League 2019-20 title after the All India Football Federation (AIFF) suspended the season, and the league leaders awarded the silverware.

The Kolkata-based team is backed by a crowd of passionate fans in the nation. However, they failed to enter the quarter-finals of this year's Durand Cup, losing in the group stages by finishing third. 

Other notable mentions

Mumbai City FC and Bengaluru FC are also clubs with a considerable mass of fans. Both teams qualified for the semi-finals in the ongoing Durand Cup and will compete for a place in the summit clash.