As Indian football chooses between red and blue pill, Bengaluru FC is I-League's last stand

The build-up to the second leg of the semifinal between Bengaluru and Johor Darul Ta'zim was all about how the match is much bigger than being just about a place in the final of the AFC Cup—which in itself is an unprecedented achievement in Indian football. The occasion brought everyone together—which again is an unprecedented achievement in this country.

The bitterness was not just about a rookie disrupting the established order. The bitterness was from the fact that a club from a city which had very little heritage of football represented everything their fabled clubs are not. They showed exactly what their clubs are missing out on and exposed their administrative flaws much like the day highlights the night.

When the I-League resumes, assuming there will be enough clubs in the league to resume it, these clubs will once again give each other hell. The fans will once again sport their tinted glasses. But, last night, we encountered something special on and off the pitch. The league and its clubs and its fans showed that I-League might lack the bling but it has a soul. It came together like all the components of a superorganism and showed that there is bigger cause out there which transcends rivalry and banter.

The club knew how to use social media to rope in the fans. They have successfully created a sense of belonging for the fans. They made sure that the fans are not just 'visitors' when they attended a game in the stadium. From chants to banners to open-top bus celebrations—Bengaluru FC have given the other clubs a blueprint to follow.

Their rise comes at a time when Indian football is at a crossroad. It is at a point where it has to choose between the blue pill and the red pill.

I-League is the underdog in this battle against the ISL - much like Bengaluru were against the defending champions Johor. They had already lost against them in the group stages twice. They were even trailing in the first leg of the semifinal away from home. However, they fought back. Resembling the fight and spirit that still remains in the league, they equalized in the first leg, and that away goal handed them a semblance of hope. They transformed that hope into the most important win in the club's history. Their captain led from the front and provided them with a touch of quality when they needed it most. Eugeneson Lyngdoh kept running at the Johor defence all night. He was kicked, battered, and bruised, but he got up and kept going till the job was done. That show of character and desire is what this league needs now.

On 5th November, Bengaluru will take to the field against the Iraqi Air Force club Al-Quwa Al-Jawiya in South Korea. Once again, it will be bigger than just the shiny trophy up for grabs. They will also be fighting for a dying league and clubs. It will be the last stand. That night Bengaluru will be in a position to show the people in power at the AIFF 'how deep the rabbit holes goes'. Bengaluru are the I-League's homeostasis. They are The One.