Five players who will play key role in India’s Olympics Campaign

India’s captain, Bharat Chetri

London Olympics just little more than a month away most of the teams have started disclosing their sides for the tournament and Hockey India have also come out with the Indian side for the tournament. Let us look at the five Indian players with who will play a major role in India’s Olympics campaign.

1. Bharat Chetri
Loss in form of of India’s first choice keeper PR Sreejesh means Indian captain who usually played second fiddle to Sreejesh will go to the Olympics as the first choice goalkeeper backed by impressive performance on the blue turf. With Indian defense still making mistakes, Bharat Chetri will have to play key role in the India’s Olympics campaign. At the time, when Sreejesh’s form is becoming erratic, 30 year old Chetri is improving his performance and every opportunity provided. In Sultan Azlan Shah Cup too, India won all the games in which he was the custodian and its positioning and agility that is allowing Indian team to go on attack without worrying much on defending. With him in the post, Indian team has good opportunity to go forward and score goals. No doubt, the captain of the Indian team will play a major role in India’s Olympics campaign.

2. Sardara Singh

India’s Mr Dependable, Sardara Singh

There is no doubt about it that Sardara Singh will play biggest role for Indian team in the Olympics. Whenever Sardara Singh plays well, the Indian team plays well and whenever he has an off game, the problems for the Indian team increases. The most important player of the squad, Sardara Singh will have to help the Indian team in all the areas. The major part of India’s planning is done around Sardara Singh and hist performance will be vital for India’s performance. Sardara Singh will start for India in the midfield but he will have to play as a defender, midfieler and as a forward in the team as he is the most creative and bankable player of the team. Despite being a midfielder, Sardara’s major role will be of a defender where he will have to bail out Indian defense time to time and allow the other players to move forward.

3. Gurbaj Singh
With Sardara Singh going to spend most of his on field time in Indian defense, 27 year old Gurbaj Singh will have to take Sardara’s role in the midfield and hold it. Technically sound and creative, Gurbaj Singh’s role will be to support both Indian attack and come down and help the defense. Coming straight back into the side for Sultan Azlan after knee injury, he has made is presence felt and linked up very well with SV Sunil and created lots of chances for the Indian team in attack. In the bronze medal match against Great Britain, he looked very very comfortable on the ball and made some great passes for SV Sunil. In defense too, Gurbaj Singh kept the English at bay and made some vital saves in the game. His return gives India an advantage and stability.

4. SV Sunil
After suffering knee injury in 2010 that nearly ended his career, SV Sunil’s return has been boon to the Indian team. A player gifted with blistering pace (nearly matching Dhanraj Pillay) and sharpness, SV Sunil has the responsibility of carrying Indian attack on his shoulders. Totally unpredictable, his runs have terrorized defenders of opposition. His electrifying goal against Pakistan in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup shows a lot about his character and his never say die attitude, SV Sunil will lead the Indian attack in the Olympics and surely going to play a major role in India’s Olympics campaign.

5. VR Raghunath

From zero to hero, Raghunath

Go back one year and you would not even want to see him in the team but today he is one of the most important defenders of the squad. His defending has improved drastically and he is currently the best defender of the Indian team. With Sandeep Singh not getting enough time to play and staying on the bench, Raghunath is also becoming India’s main weapon during penalty corners. Raghunath’s good from and improvement will be great relief for the Indian coach Michael Nobbs who was worried about Indian defense. His defending and penalty corner will be key for the Indian team.

Here is my list of five Indian players who will play key role for Indian team in the Olympics, who are your players who will play key role for the Indian team in the Olympics.

Check out India’s team for London Olympics, click here

(Image source: Google Images)