It’s difficult to learn quite a bit into the Pro League outcomes this season, given that the majority groups are in an experimental mode, however India coach Graham Reid will need to have quite a bit occurring in his thoughts.
His staff isn’t in a position to maintain possession in an assured method, lack composure contained in the attacking third, appear too one-dimensional in penalty nook conditions, are sometimes second to react to unfastened balls and, as a consequence of all these elements, aren’t in a position to get outcomes they want. Saturday’s 1-3 tie-breaker defeat to an under-strength Argentina, after the sport ended 2-2 on the finish of the regulation time, as soon as once more uncovered these frailties, that are forming right into a behavior.
For the primary time in two years, India misplaced back-to-back matches at dwelling, having been defeated by Spain earlier this month. More than the tip outcomes, what is going to damage India extra is the way wherein they’ve been dropping. Taking any latest Indian efficiency – be it the tie-breaker defeat to Argentina on Saturday, the loss to Spain earlier this month, France earlier than that or Japan within the Asian Champions Trophy – all of them appear to suit a sample.
Reid, it seems, is making ready the staff with the larger image in thoughts – the Asian Games this yr, the place a Paris Olympics berth is at stake, and the World Cup at dwelling subsequent January. This is clear from the way in which he’s lining up the staff and rotating the squad, giving an opportunity to newcomers and people who have been on the fringes for lengthy.
Sneak peek from the FIH Hockey Pro League 2021/2022 match between the Indian Men’s Hockey staff and Argentina on 19 March at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.#IndiaKaGame #HockeyIndia #FIHProLeague #hockeyatitsbest @CMO_Odisha @sports_odisha @IndiaSports @Media_SAI pic.twitter.com/b4wEqGQGVB
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) March 19, 2022
The Australian hasn’t even shied away from tinkering with the management group – handing over the captain’s armband to defender Amit Rohidas and making ahead Mandeep Singh – whose last-minute equaliser compelled a tie-breaker – his deputy. There is not any suggestion up to now that Rohidas will completely exchange Manpreet Singh – who began on the wings on Saturday, as a substitute of his most popular centre-half place – because the captain.
Hockey India has stored Reid away from media interactions, so it’s powerful to grasp the coach’s rationale behind a few of these selections. One factor, nonetheless, is evident – this Indian outfit seems a pale shadow of the one which completed on the rostrum on the Tokyo Olympics.
It isn’t all gloomy. The excessive variety of circle penetrations in each match – India entered Argentina’s ‘D’ 32 occasions in 60 minutes on Saturday – exhibits the power to assault relentlessly. For the second recreation operating, younger ahead Sukhjeet Singh impressed together with his dribbling talents and Shilanand Lakra continues to impress, however the younger ahead line nonetheless must work on its positioning and communication. On Saturday, ahead Gurjant Singh – taking part in his first match after the Olympics – offered some enamel to the assault, scoring a typical poacher’s objective.
But general, India have been fairly wasteful within the ultimate third.
More than the sphere objective conversion ratio, India might be involved in regards to the consolation with which Argentina blunted the efforts from penalty corners. India earned 5 PCs, with Harmanpreet Singh taking a bulk of them, however the staff very not often opts for a variation, permitting the rushers to shut down the drag-flicker’s angles.
It is pure for a staff that’s so dedicated to attacking to be left uncovered on the again, however India’s defensive woes aren’t nearly that. While it could nonetheless be argued that the profligacy within the attacking third is because of inexperienced attackers, there will be no such excuses for defence, which has roughly remained secure with regulars Varun Kumar, Surender Kumar – who performed his a hundred and fiftieth worldwide on Saturday – Rohidas and Harmanpreet routinely beginning matches.
Yet, the staff has conceded uncharacteristic objectives – some very mushy. The midfield has been notoriously inconsistent as properly, placing strain on the backline.
The inconsistent nature of the Indian staff means after they face Argentina once more on Sunday, they might placed on a near-perfect efficiency. But Reid will unlikely be swayed by that efficiency as properly. It is likely to be difficult to learn into Pro League outcomes, however the Indian staff has its arms full.
Playing tonight: India vs Argentina, 7.30pm, Live on Star Sports Network
