Indian Super League is here to stay, but what about the I-League?

The ISL came and, quite rightly, conquered over the sporting world of India. With crowds of over 20,000 at each game, it is quite easy to see the popularity of the tournament. Yet with the end of the inaugural season now fast approaching, a bigger question now arises regarding the future of Indian football. What happens to the I-League?

The I-League now faces a huge challenge in order to live up to the billing of the ISL. Unfortunately, they don't have the funds to mount this challenge and are no match to the glitz and glamour provided by the ISL.

The I-League has found it tough to flourish in India since the very beginning. With meagre crowds and lack of funds, the tournament, although making promising strides, never struck a chord with the general public. Yet being associated as the official Indian league, the I-League held the mantle to promote younger Indian talent and develop them further.

Post the ISL, however, it's clear that youngsters now have a bigger and better platform to showcase their talents on.

Even though the future of the I-league may now look bleak, it is absolutely vital that the funding be increased to the tournament. Post ISL, it's critical to maintain the rise in popularity of football which can only be provided by the I-League.

Newer players and a mix of foreign stars should help, yet it is down to the organisers to follow the benchmark set by the ISL.

Players like Sunil Chettri have actively voiced their opinion on this matter, with the Indian striker urging all Indian players not to forget their I-League commitments after the ISL.

With the tournament set to begin in January, it may already be at a disadvantage, as the games look set to continue in the summer heat.

The conditions may not be ideal in the summer for football, let alone for supporters and fans in the stadium.

Many of the owners of teams in the I-League are also having various stakes in teams in the ISL, which could prove to be a matter of concern.

Considering that companies could only provide for a certain amount in funding, the ISL club is most certainly backed to get the majority of the funds.

Considering all this, it's not all doom and gloom for the I-League.

It's well known for having its own place in Indian sports calendar, and some of the fiercest derbies, including Mohan Bagan vs East Bengal, can only be experienced in the I-League.

It still has the capability to produce gems of Indian football, something which will be crucial, as India look set to host the U-17 World Cup.

For the ISL to deliver every year, it has to look for the players performing well in the I-League, so that could be an added incentive for organisers and players alike.

In future, the co-existence and timing of the ISL and the I-League could well prove to be the key to whether the sport really has a chance to thrive.

Indian football is definitely riding a wave, and the next part is as crucial as the one before. The I-League has big shoes to fill, but if revamped correctly, it may turn out to be a huge success after all.