The Indian Super League (ISL) was born out of a promise to make football commercially viable in India. But in 2026, there is one big question: can the league attract enough money to support the clubs that are part of it?
There are warning signs you can’t ignore. The 2026-27 ISL season faces uncertainty due to the absence of a commercial partner, with the league requiring a ₹25 crore central funding pool to get the competition back on its feet. The subsequent commercial-rights process eventually saw a bid of around ₹2,130 crore over 20 years from Genius Sports, but the financial model has now moved towards the clubs.
That shift is why the recent departure of Jamshedpur FC is so significant. Tata Steel’s exit from professional football and the sale of the club to Churchill Brothers have posed uncomfortable questions about the viability of the current model.
The irony is that the ISL itself is of huge value. It remains the country’s premier football competition, provides a professional platform for Indian players and has helped create a market for domestic talent. The problem is that clubs have often operated in an ecosystem where commercial income has not kept pace with expenditure.
Which brings us to the awkward question: are Indian players overpaid?
That’s certainly an argument you could make. During the recent crisis, there were reports that most Indian players were still earning salaries in the ₹20-70 lakh bracket, with top players traditionally earning in crores. Some experts believe wages are higher than the performances of Indian players, especially at international level.
Clubs need to be more financially disciplined, with performance-related contracts, sustainable wage structures, better youth development and greater accountability in recruitment. But players also need to understand that a bigger salary comes with greater responsibility, especially in international competition.
The ISL’s commercial crisis is no evidence that Indian players are overpaid. It is proof that Indian football has not yet developed a business model that can consistently sustain the wages it has generated.
Under the new club-led model, ISL clubs are now in charge of the league’s commercial rights. That gives them both an opportunity and a responsibility to change the ongoing dilemma surrounding Indian football.
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