Lalrinliana Hnamte, midfielder for Sporting Club Delhi, believes the Indian Super League's new club-led commercial model will attract greater investment and fan interest to the competition, calling the structural shift a 'huge difference' for both players and supporters ahead of the 2026-27 ISL season.

The New Commercial Structure

The ISL enters the 2026-27 campaign under a fundamentally reformed commercial arrangement. Following an agreement reached in July between the All India Football Federation (AIFF) and the league's clubs, commercial rights have been transferred to the clubs themselves, while the federation retains administrative and regulatory oversight. The shift is designed to give clubs greater ownership over the league's financial and commercial trajectory.

Hnamte, speaking at a media interaction ahead of the new season, said he expects the change to unlock stronger club investment. 'I don't think much, but it will make more interest because the club will be willing to pay more and willing to take care of the club more. So as a fan and for the player, it will be a huge difference, a huge change,' he said.

Season Format and Hnamte's Personal Goals

The 2026-27 season also marks the return of a full home-and-away format, with the playoffs reinstated as part of the competition structure — a move widely welcomed by clubs and supporters. Hnamte, who joined SC Delhi this season after previous stints at clubs including Chennai FC, says he arrives in peak condition with an unambiguous target. 'This season is one of the best; mentally and physically I'm ready. We are not here to compete; we are trying to win the league, so we are ready for that,' he said.

He also pointed to the youthful hunger within SC Delhi's squad as a factor he believes could be decisive. 'The group, we are very young, but we are hungry for the trophy. And I think it will be very great for us, and I think we'll have a great season,' Hnamte added.

Coach Tchorz on International Workload and Squad Readiness

SC Delhi head coach Tomasz Tchorz acknowledged that, unlike several rival clubs, his squad has not had to manage the recovery demands associated with recent international duty. 'In our case, there is not a problem because, unfortunately for our club and team, we didn't have any player playing for the national team this winter,' Tchorz said.

Several Indian players from other ISL clubs have recently featured in international friendlies against high-profile opposition, including Brazil, raising wider questions about workload management in the lead-up to the league season. Tchorz acknowledged the value of such exposure while noting its irrelevance to his own preparations. 'For those who played in these games, obviously, it's a valuable experience, and they will have a lot of takeaways from these games. However, for us, it doesn't really matter because we are still working on delivering players to the national team,' he said.

SC Delhi's Turnaround Ambitions After Poor 2025-26

SC Delhi had a difficult 2025-26 campaign, finishing 12th in the standings with just two wins across the season. The club opens their 2026-27 account against Bengaluru FC, a fixture that will offer an early gauge of how much ground the squad has covered since last season's disappointment. With a revamped commercial model and renewed squad ambition, the club will be looking to make a markedly different impression this time around.