Since the inception of the Indian association football league competition, the I-League, in 2007, around more than 15 players scored three or more goals in a single match. The first player to achieve the feat was Brazilian Eduardo da Silva Escobar, who scored three times for JCT in a 3–1 victory over East Bengal. Seven players have scored more than three goals in a match: Odafe Onyeka Okolie, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Tolgay Özbey, Ranti Martins, Beto, Gbeneme Friday and Bektur Talgat Uulu. Baljit Sahni holds the record for the quickest I-League hat-trick, netting three times against Shillong Lajong in 54 minutes.
Odafe has scored three or more goals 13 times in the I-League, more than any other player. Three players have each scored hat-tricks for two different clubs: Odafe Onyeka Okolie (Churchill Brothers and Mohun Bagan), Muritala Ali (Mahindra United and Mohun Bagan) Ranti Martins for (Dempo and Prayag United).