Is Rowllin Borges the best Indian midfielder in the ISL this season? | Goal.com

Mumbai City FC lead the Indian Super League (ISL) standings this season with 33 points from 15 matches. Sergio Lobera’s side have only suffered two defeats in this campaign, both to NorthEast United.

It must be noted that in both these defeats, Ahmed Jahouh and Rowllin Borges didn’t play together as a midfield pair for 90 minutes. Jahouh was sent-off in the season opener before half-time and Borges was suspended for the second game against NorthEast.

As much as Jahouh is deemed crucial for Lobera’s team, Borges has slowly but gradually grown in stature and taken his game to the next level. In fact, no Indian midfielder or rather outfield player is having the kind of impact he has had this season.

The Indian international has so far appeared in 14 games for the Islanders, finding the back of the net once while also providing one for his teammates.

The former Sporting Clube de Goa player has the most number of touches per game this season. In 14 games, he has amassed 1015 touches as compared to 1070 by full-back Ashis Rai of Hyderabad FC. Borges is always around to receive a pass and is known for his control on the ball in tight situations.

When it comes to passing accuracy, he is third on the list but it’s vital to note that he has played almost double the number of minutes when compared to Lenny Rodrigues. Chinglensana Singh has the best passing accuracy however, it must be underlined that he plays a centre-back as opposed to being deployed in the middle of the park.

Borges has completed 725 of his 856 attempted passes, the second most in the league. Again, only Bedia has completed more passes than the former NorthEast United player (873).

Despite playing as a holding midfielder, Borges has been heavily involved in the build-up of attacks at Mumbai City. His passing range and ability to get up and down the pitch constantly has been a great asset to Lobera’s team.

It is no surprise to see him lead the table when it comes to the most successful passes in the opposition half among Indian players. And when you consider players with a minimum of 200 successful passes in the opposition half, Borges has the second-best passing accuracy as well, only trailing behind FC Goa’s Seriton Fernandes who is a right-back.

And it is not just his passing ability that has stood out. Borges’ defensive positioning and workrate has also been exemplary, forming an effective shield for Mumbai City’s backline. That part of his game is highlighted by the fact that he has made the most interceptions amongst all midfielders in the league this time around. 

And it is not just intercepting loose balls and breaking up play, he also has the second-best ball recovery stats among Indian midfielders. 

There is no doubt that the Goan is arguably the best midfielder in India right now. 
 

*All stats are from Opta and are correct as before the game between NorthEast United vs FC Goa on February 4, 2021.