When the Indian men’s hockey team gets its World Cup campaign underway here on Saturday against Wales, casual viewers would be forgiven for mistaking it for co-host the Netherlands. The blue, which has been synonymous with Indian hockey, has been controversially painted over by saffron.
8 in the rankings, after a dismal Pro League campaign, India is a rank outsider in the mega event in the Netherlands and Belgium. Having fallen to No. Craig Fulton, who oversaw a collective improvement in the European leg of the Pro League, will hope his side doesn’t fall into familiar defensive lapses as it did in the first four months of the year. This Indian team has plenty of big-tournament experience to bank on. Captain Harmanpreet Singh, Manpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh and Amit Rohidas are veterans of several multi-nation tournaments. Yet, what might set apart Fulton’s men from the title contenders — Belgium, the Netherlands, England and Australia — is the depth in quality with proven match-winners across the pitch. This will also be the first major tournament since P.R. Sreejesh’s retirement. But after a shaky period, both Suraj Karkera and newcomer Mohith H.S., in particular, have impressed under the Indian goal. On the Independence Day, the ‘new-look’ team will have the first opportunity to put behind questionable decision-making, both on and off the field, to show there is more at stake than the colour of the Indian jersey.
The subsequent axing of Krishan Pathak, Sreejesh’s long-viewed successor earlier this year, has only added further scrutiny to India’s defensive woes.