East Bengal End 22-Year Wait for Glory as Prabhsukhan Gill Becomes Kolkata’s New Hero

May 22, 2026: East Bengal FC finally ended their painful 22-year wait to be crowned champions of India after a dramatic 2-1 victory over Inter Kashi on the final day of the season secured the Indian Super League title. It was a night filled with emotion, tension, and redemption as the Red and Gold brigade completed one of the most memorable title-winning campaigns in recent Indian football history.

In the end, East Bengal finished level on points with their fierce city rivals Mohun Bagan Super Giant, with only goal difference separating the two Kolkata giants. Mohun Bagan defeated SC Delhi 2-1 in their final match, but they needed six more goals to snatch the title away from East Bengal. Despite creating numerous chances, glaring misses from players like Jason Cummings and Manvir Singh proved costly.

The evening initially began perfectly for Mohun Bagan supporters as Alfred Planas stunned East Bengal in the 14th minute with a sensational side-footed volley that flew past Prabhsukhan Gill. The strike immediately increased pressure on East Bengal, whose supporters feared another heartbreaking collapse in a title race.

To their credit, East Bengal responded strongly. Although Youssef Ezzejjari initially missed a golden opportunity, the league’s Golden Boot winner eventually made amends. A goalkeeping error from Shubham Dhas allowed Ezzejjari to equalise and settle East Bengal’s nerves. Twenty minutes later, a brilliant cross from Bipin Singh found Mohammed Basim Rashid, who calmly finished to spark wild celebrations among the East Bengal faithful.

At one stage, Mohun Bagan were also trailing after Clarence Fernandes scored against the run of play for SC Delhi. Although Bagan eventually came back to win thanks to goals from Manvir Singh and Jamie Maclaren, it was ultimately East Bengal’s night. The long wait was finally over — East Bengal were champions of India once again.

ফিরলাম আবার রাজার মতো 👑

THE KINGS OF INDIA ARE BACK ❤️💛#JoyEastBengal #ISLChampions pic.twitter.com/1EcpR0829S

— East Bengal FC (@eastbengal_fc) May 21, 2026

Prabhsukhan Gill Becomes East Bengal’s ‘Dibu Martinez’

For East Bengal fans, one name will forever remain attached to this historic title triumph — Prabhsukhan Gill.

Much like Emiliano Martínez became an eternal hero for Argentina supporters after helping Argentina national football team win the FIFA World Cup in 2022, Gill has now carved out a permanent place in the hearts of East Bengal supporters. Just as Martínez’s iconic save helped end Argentina’s 36-year wait for World Cup glory, Gill’s brilliance between the posts became one of the biggest reasons behind East Bengal finally ending their own 22-year nightmare.

The last time East Bengal had won the national league was more than two decades ago. Since then, generations of supporters have lived through heartbreak after heartbreak. The club enjoyed moments of success during that period, but the dream of lifting the country’s biggest league title always remained incomplete. Time and again, East Bengal came painfully close only to stumble at the final hurdle. Last-minute goals, missed opportunities, and cruel collapses became recurring nightmares for the Red and yellow faithful.

দীর্ঘ ২২ বছরের অপেক্ষার অবসান, ভারতসেরা ইস্টবেঙ্গল এফসি! 🔴🟡#EastBengalFC #ISL12 #ISLChampions pic.twitter.com/sUOA77tZi5

— Indian Super League (@IndSuperLeague) May 21, 2026

The pain became even worse during the ISL era. East Bengal frequently found themselves near the bottom of the table, sometimes finishing last and often struggling to compete with the league’s elite teams. This season, however, represented a golden opportunity to change that story forever. Yet even while leading the title race, there remained a deep fear among supporters that history might repeat itself once again.

That fear reached its peak during the Kolkata Derby. East Bengal simply could not afford defeat if they wanted to stay alive in the championship race. As the match entered its final moments with the score tied 1-1, panic spread through the East Bengal fanbase. Mohun Bagan launched one final attack as Jason Cummings delivered a dangerous pass from the right wing to Jamie Maclaren, who had broken through the entire East Bengal defence.

For a brief moment, time almost stopped for the Red and Gold supporters. Maclaren pushed the ball towards goal, and it seemed certain that East Bengal’s title hopes were about to collapse in devastating fashion. But then came the defining moment of the season.

Gill stretched out his foot and somehow produced an incredible save to deny what looked like an inevitable goal. That single moment kept East Bengal alive in the title race and gave the team the belief they needed heading into the final league match. Eventually, that spirit carried them to the championship.

Of course, Gill’s contribution cannot be measured by just one save alone. Throughout the season, he displayed maturity, courage, and composure under pressure. However, the journey was far from easy for the young goalkeeper. There was a time when he faced heavy criticism from East Bengal supporters after making costly mistakes in important matches. On several occasions in previous seasons, simple errors and lapses in concentration had resulted in dropped points, and many fans questioned whether he was capable of leading the team forward.

But football has a way of changing narratives.

This season, Prabhsukhan Gill transformed himself completely. From being criticised as a liability, he evolved into East Bengal’s saviour. And now, after helping deliver one of the greatest moments in the club’s modern history, his name will forever be remembered among the heroes of the Red and Yellow brigade.