The new team from South India are keen on a perfect balance of youth and experience in their squad...

I-League newbies Chennai City FC are on a signing spree these days, having roped in a number of players who have plied their trade in Indian top-flight football for several years.

29-year-old defender Dharmaraj Ravanan, who has played for the likes of Dempo, Churchill Brothers, Mohun Bagan and Mahindra United in the past, will be wearing the captain's armband for the team. The Tamil Nadu-born professional was playing for FC Pune City in the recently concluded third edition of Indian Super League (ISL). His leadership qualities were on show during his Churchill days, when he had led the Red Machines to I-League and Federation Cup triumphs in 2012-13 and 2013-14.

Dhanpal Ganesh, another local star, who had missed the majority of last season owing to a knee injury has also been drafted in by Chennai City. The defensive midfielder, adept in breaking up play, rose to prominence during his Pune FC days before making it to the India national team squad. He will be joined by Zakeer Mundampara, his Chennaiyin FC team-mate, who also has played for a number of I-League teams over the last few years.

However, the most high-profile signing by the outfit is that of India international Karanjit Singh, who will be standing under the bar for them. The former Salgaocar captain decided to look out for greener pastures after the Greens pulled out of the current edition of I-League. With the emergence of fellow Punjab lads Gurpreet Singh Sandhu and Amrinder Singh, Karanjit has lost his place in the national squad and will be desperate to leave behind a forgettable 2016 to make a comeback in Stephen Constantine's set-up.

Chennai will start their I-League campaign against Minerva Punjab in a home match to be played at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Chennai on 8th January.