Harmanpreet Singh was unimpressed with the finishers. The captain’s blunt assessment of India’s four defeats on the bounce in the home leg of the FIH Pro League was that the players were ‘making the same mistakes of not finishing the chances.’
He may not be off the mark. Scoring just five goals in four matches does not reflect well on a team that boasts one of the best drag-flickers in the world and prides itself on playing attacking hockey. But India’s problems have been even more pronounced at the other end of the pitch. In the two fixtures each against Belgium and Argentina, the Harmanpreet-led defence conceded 19 goals, including eight in a single match. It could have been worse if not for the profligacy, or perhaps mercy, of their opponents.
India’s Australia leg of the Pro League, which opens against Spain on Saturday, shifts the spotlight firmly onto the back line. With Harmanpreet absent — only the second such instance in at least half a decade — the side will be without its defensive general and primary penalty-corner threat. The 30-year-old endured a rare dip in Rourkela and has been rested for the matches in Hobart.
In his absence, India’s defence will not be short on experience. Amit Rohidas has 235 caps, Sumit 168, Jarmanpreet Singh is two shy of 150, and Jugraj Singh is closing in on 100. But Rohidas looked a shadow of himself on his home turf last week, particularly with his first rushing; Jarmanpreet was error-prone, Jugraj’s drag-flicks still do not inspire confidence, and Sumit is yet to feature in this edition of the Pro League.
Even in goal, Suraj Karkera endured a forgettable week in Rourkela, especially while defending penalty corners — though it could be argued he did not receive adequate support from his defenders, who repeatedly left him exposed against top attackers.
There will hardly be a sterner examination than facing an ultra-aggressive Australia on home soil, along with a Spain side that played with high intensity in their 3–1 loss to the hosts on Friday. India coach Craig Fulton will hope his defenders pass the test, not least because it would ease the transition for the younger players in the back line.
Amandeep Lakra, who made his debut against Belgium last Saturday, will hope to show he has it in him to fill Harmanpreet’s sizeable boots — much like he did in the Hockey India League, when he ensured the Hyderabad Toofans did not feel the absence of penalty-corner specialist Gonzalo Peillat. Poovanna Chandura Boby, the midfielder-turned-defender from hockey-rich Kodagu, will have the opportunity to cement his place in the side. And goalkeeper Mohith HS will aim to climb up the pecking order, with Krishan Pathak sidelined due to disciplinary reasons and Karkera short of his best form.
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Fulton has preferred a four-man defence in most of his games but deviated from it against Argentina last week, when he deployed a 2-5-3 formation. The wing-backs dropped deeper to provide cover for the defensive line, but it will be a challenge for both the new players and the out-of-form veterans to match the intensity of Australia and Spain — something they failed to do against Belgium and Argentina last week.
The onus will also be on the midfield, led by stand-in captain Hardik Singh, which must not only manipulate space to feed the forwards but also shield the back line. They were unable to do so last week. India’s midfielders were weak on the ball, gave it away too cheaply in their own half, and looked more individualistic than cohesive as their opponents overran them.
Unless India tidy up defensively and inject urgency into their play, the Pro League may continue to underline a worrying truth: this is a side bereft of ideas and answers.
India’s schedule in Hobart (times in IST):
February 21: vs Spain (12pm)February 22: vs Australia (12pm)February 24: vs Spain (2pm)February 25: vs Australia (2pm)
Live on Star Sports Network and Jio HotStar
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India’s 24-member squad for Hobart leg:
Goalkeepers: Suraj Karkera, Mohith HS
Defenders: Amit Rohidas, Jarmanpreet Singh, Jugraj Singh, Sanjay, Sumit, Amandeep Lakra, Yashdeep Siwach, Poovanna Chandura Boby
Midfielders: Rajinder Singh, Manmeet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Hardik Singh (Captain), Moirangthem Rabichandra Singh, Vishnu Kant Singh, Raj Kumar Pal
Forwards: Abhishek, Shilanand Lakra, Mandeep Singh, Araijeet Singh Hundal, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Angad Bir Singh, Maninder Singh
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