What is worth asking, with the World Cup two months away and India still searching for the right balance across the pitch, is whether the position he plays is actually the one that gets the most out of him.

This analysis is based on video review of India’s FIH Pro League matches against Netherlands and Germany in Rotterdam, alongside the goals conceded record from the Rourkela and Hobart legs earlier in the season.

His defensive role has always been straightforward on paper, the last man back, the player whose positioning underpins everything India do without the ball. But increasingly, the question is not whether Harmanpreet Singh matters to this team. It clearly does. The question is whether defence is actually the role he should be playing.

Harmanpreet Singh’s Defensive Positioning

The numbers from India’s home leg in Rourkela were stark. India lost all four matches, conceding 19 goals, including an 0-8 defeat to Argentina. Harmanpreet was rarely visible in the frame during defensive sequences, effectively playing India a man down at the back. His recovery runs were slow.

He then took personal time away from the squad and missed all four matches of the Hobart leg in Australia. India still could not win in regulation, but defensively the picture changed. India conceded just 6 goals across those four matches, compared to 19 in Rourkela. That swing does not prove Harmanpreet’s positioning caused Rourkela’s defensive collapse, a small sample across two legs against different opponents has obvious limits, but it is a real enough shift that it deserves notice.

A similar pattern showed up again against Netherlands in Rotterdam. India conceded an early goal in the second minute. From what was visible, Harmanpreet’s positioning looked partly responsible. Two minutes later, with India defending, he was seen standing next to Jarmanpreet Singh, more focused on watching the ball than actively engaging with the play in front of him. Two separate moments inside the opening four minutes, both pointing to the same concern.

Read More: FIH Pro League 2025-26: 5 Things to Watch as India Heads to Europe

The Vision and the Passing

What makes this complicated is that in the same matches where his positioning was a concern, Harmanpreet Singh was also directly responsible for some of India’s best attacking moments.

In the sixth minute against Netherlands, he sent an aerial ball to Jarmanpreet Singh on the right with pinpoint accuracy, the kind of pass that requires real anticipation and vision to execute. Later in the same match, positioned between India’s own circle and the 5-metre line, he hit a long diagonal slap shot across the width of the pitch to the opposite flank, finding Dilpreet Singh open. Dilpreet scored India’s first goal from that pass.

Against Germany, the pattern repeated. In the sixth minute, India won a free hit near the halfway line. Harmanpreet Singh received it with his back to play, looking set to pass backward. Germany’s defenders shifted to cover that pass. Instead, he played a quick self-pass and released the ball forward with a stick movement too fast to track, beating at least two defenders who had been covering passing lanes. Later in the match, he hit another slap shot from just before the 25-yard line that cut through seven German defenders, the ball running through to Shilanand Lakra, who scored India’s second goal.

Four moments, two matches, the same skill on display each time, a long, accurate pass that finds a teammate in space and turns defence directly into a scoring chance.

Is a Defensive Midfield Role the Answer?

There is a tactical knock-on effect worth considering here. Right now, because India often struggle to progress the ball cleanly from the back, Hardik Singh has had to drop deep into India’s own half to get on the ball and start attacks himself. That takes Hardik further from the opposition’s defensive third, the area where his ability to create and finish matters most.

If Harmanpreet Singh were consistently doing the job of progressing the ball from deep, the long diagonal passes, the disguised forward balls, Hardik would not need to retreat as often. He could stay higher up the pitch, closer to India’s forwards, putting more direct pressure on opposition defenders instead of spending energy collecting possession deep in his own half.

That is not a small shift. It would change where India’s best playmaker spends most of his time on the pitch.

None of this means Harmanpreet Singh has solved his defensive positioning. He has not. The same issue that showed up in Rourkela showed up again against Netherlands. What it does suggest is that his value to this team right now is not really about being the last line of defence. It is about penalty corners, and increasingly, about the passing range that looks more suited to a defensive midfield role than a traditional back line position.

The World Cup is two months away. Nobody is going to shift a captain’s position mid-cycle based on two matches. But the question is worth sitting with, because right now, Harmanpreet Singh looks like he has more to offer India going forward than he does standing still.

2026 is a big year for Indian hockey. Nations Cup. World Cup. Asian Games. We will be covering every important moment of this journey. Subscribe to the Give Me Hockey newsletter and stay with us through all of it.

Jimmy Bhogal is the founder of Give Me Hockey.

<p>The post Could Harmanpreet Singh Be More Effective in Midfield? first appeared on Give Me Hockey.</p>

India sit eighth in the standings with 4 points from 8 matches, ahead of only Pakistan. The European leg takes them to Rotterdam to face Netherlands and Germany, before moving to London for matches against Pakistan and England.

The World Cup is the priority. Asian Games gold offers direct Olympic qualification for 2028. Both tournaments demand a squad that is fit, settled, and scoring goals. There is also an open question of peaking at the right moment, something India have struggled with before. Right now, India are 0 for 8 with the lowest goal tally in the league.

With the World Cup and Asian Games in mind, here are five things worth watching as India begin this leg.

1. Results Now or a Plan for August?

India have not won a single match this Pro League season. Eighth place, ahead of only Pakistan, with Netherlands, Germany, Pakistan, and England waiting in Rotterdam and London.

Go all out, chase a result, end the winless run, give the squad something to build confidence on heading into the World Cup. That is one option.

But there is history here that complicates it. At the 2023 World Cup, India beat Spain on day one, then faded over the following nine days, eventually losing on penalties to New Zealand in the crossover after leading 3-1 with nine minutes left. India peaked too early. By the time it mattered most, the sharpness was gone.

The European leg sits two months before the World Cup. If India go all out here purely to get a result, they risk being in a similar position come August, sharp now, faded later.

The honest tension is this. Does India use Rotterdam and London to build combinations, fitness, and tactics with August in mind? Or does a winless season demand a result now, even if it means peaking at the wrong time again?

Read More: Peaking at the Right Moment: The One Thing That Will Define India at the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup

2. Where Are the Goals?

India have scored 9 goals in 8 matches this season, the lowest in the Pro League.

The forward line is the most obvious concern. Abhishek has played 7 matches and scored 0 goals. Sukhjeet Singh has played 3 and scored 0. Between them, India’s first-choice forwards have not found the net once this season.

Part of this could be a service problem. Watching India this season, the midfield has not consistently created chances for the forward line. If the ball is not getting to Abhishek and Sukhjeet in positions to score, the goal drought is not just a finishing issue, it becomes a question about how India build attacks through midfield.

Penalty corners tell a similar story. India have scored 4 PC goals from 21 attempts, a conversion rate of 19 percent. On its own, that is a respectable number. But when your forwards are not scoring from open play, the penalty corner unit needs to do more than be respectable. It needs to be the difference.

Read More: FIH Pro League: India’s Squad and Schedule for European Leg

3. If Not Harmanpreet, Then Who?

Penalty corner specialists hunt in pairs. Most top hockey nations have at least two recognised drag-flickers who can both occupy the top of the circle, giving the opposition two threats to defend rather than one.

India still relies overwhelmingly on Harmanpreet Singh. If he is off form, injured, or simply has a quiet day, the question becomes immediate: who else can step up?

Jugraj Singh has been the traditional second option but his numbers this season, 1 from 6, do not inspire confidence. Amandeep Lakra is an interesting case. He scored 9 goals in the Hockey India League for his franchise and 2 at the Junior World Cup, showing he has the ability. But he has played only 3 matches for India and is yet to convert at senior international level. Amit Rohidas can still contribute but mostly takes hits now rather than drag-flicks, a different kind of penalty corner threat altogether.

Rotterdam and London are an opportunity to find out if India has a genuine second option, or if Harmanpreet remains a one-man penalty corner unit heading into the World Cup.

4. Harmanpreet’s Form and Leadership in FIH Pro League

During India’s home leg of FIH Pro League in Rourkela, Harmanpreet Singh’s positioning was a concern. He was rarely visible in the frame during defensive sequences, raising questions about his role as the last line of defence. There was also a visible drop in how quickly he covered ground, a problem for a player whose entire role depends on being the last man back, covering spaces before attackers get there.

Harmanpreet then took personal time away from the squad and missed all four matches of the Hobart leg in Australia.

He returns as captain for the European leg. The question is which version of Harmanpreet shows up. The one whose positioning and pace were under scrutiny in Rourkela, or a sharper, more engaged defender and leader.

As captain, his presence on the pitch sets the tone for the rest of the side. Rotterdam and London will tell us a lot about where he stands.

5. The World Cup Audition

This is the last Pro League leg before the World Cup squad is announced. 22 players are in this squad. 18 will go to the World Cup. Four will not. The question is which 4 players will miss the World Cup bus. Here is how things look right now.

Several positions are settled. Harmanpreet, Amit Rohidas, Sumit, Sanjay, and Jarmanpreet look set in defence. Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, and Vivek Sagar Prasad are sure shots in midfield. Mandeep Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, and Abhishek look set in attack.

But several spots remain open. In defence, Yashdeep Siwach, Amandeep Lakra, and Jugraj Singh are all competing, with Jugraj under the most scrutiny given his recent form. The midfield, Raj Kumar Pal, Nilakanta Sharma, and Rabichandra Singh Moirangthem are fighting for the remaining spots, alongside Rajinder Singh, the least experienced of the group but talked about as a long-term successor to Sardar Singh’s role. In attack, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Dilpreet Singh, Shilanand Lakra, and Selvam Karthi are all in contention for the remaining forward spots.

Goalkeeping has its own storyline. Suraj Karkera looks set to be India’s number one. The second spot is between Mohith and Krishan Bahadur Pathak. Pathak was expected to inherit the gloves after Sreejesh’s retirement in 2024. Instead, he finds himself on standby with others ahead of him in the pecking order.

Rotterdam and London are the last major opportunity for these players to make their case before the World Cup squad is finalised.

Read More: 411 Caps and Still Going: The Manpreet Singh Story

What FIH Pro League Need to Show

India head to Europe without a win and with more questions than answers. The World Cup is only two months away. Whether it is goals, penalty corners, Harmanpreet’s form, or the battle for World Cup places, Rotterdam and London should tell us whether India have learned from an ordinary Pro League campaign so far. They may not be looking to peak in June, but they will want signs that the pieces are beginning to come together before August.

2026 is a big year for Indian hockey. Nations Cup. World Cup. Asian Games. We will be covering every important moment of this journey. Subscribe to the Give Me Hockey newsletter and stay with us through all of it

<p>The post FIH Pro League 2025-26: 5 Things to Watch as India Heads to Europe first appeared on Give Me Hockey.</p>

Coach Craig Fulton has been clear. One squad, both tournaments, no discussion. The women’s team coach Sjoerd Marijne has the same view. But the Ministry is sticking to their guns about sending two teams.

But before getting into that, here is the basic calendar reality. The World Cup runs from August 15 to 30 in Belgium and the Netherlands. The Asian Games follows from September 19 to October 4 in Japan. That is a 20-day gap at best. Now, with that context, let us get to the real question.

The Ministry has a point. But only up to a point.

The Ministry’s concern is not coming from nowhere. The government has been serious about multi-sport events for a while now. India is hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the government has placed a bid to host the 2036 Olympics. Performing well at the Asian Games fits into that larger picture.

And if you want to understand why the Ministry is almost paranoid about Olympic qualification, go back to 2008. India failed to qualify for the Olympics for the first time ever. It shook Indian hockey completely. Hockey India was born out of that mess.

So yes, there is a reason behind what they are doing. But their logic falls apart the moment you look at who India is actually playing at the Asian Games.

The competition at the Asian Games

India is ranked 8th in the world. The next Asian team in FIH rankings is Pakistan, 13th. Malaysia are placed 15th while Japan are 16th. Korea have dropped all the way to 21st. This is the competition India is supposedly so worried about that they need to send their best players.

India’s performance against Asian teams has been great over the last decade. Asian Games gold in 2014, bronze in 2018, gold again at the Hangzhou Asian Games, which was originally scheduled for 2022 but played in 2023 due to Covid, where they beat Singapore 16-1 and Pakistan 10-2 in the group stage and Japan 5-1 in the final. Asian Champions Trophy wins in 2011, 2016, 2018, 2023 and 2024. Asia Cup wins in 2017 and 2025.

Yes, 2018 was a problem. Malaysia knocked India out in the semi-final and India had to take the bronze. But here is what people forget about 2018. India went there with a full-strength squad as defending champions and still lost to Malaysia. So if the argument is that the Asian Games is risky without the A team, then 2018 actually tells you the opposite. A full-strength India can also slip up. At that point it is about performance and confidence, not who you are playing against.

Pakistan, Japan and Malaysia are all going to the World Cup and the Asian Games. Nobody is talking about any of these federations splitting their squads. Givemehockey.com has reached out to the Malaysian, Japanese and Pakistani hockey federations on this specific question and is waiting for their response. But based on what is publicly available, none of them are planning two separate teams. So India sends a B team to the World Cup while everyone else turns up with their best players. How does that make sense?

And even if India were to miss direct Olympic qualification through the Asian Games, the road to the Olympics does not end. You can qualify through the Pro League. You have Olympic qualifying tournaments available. The Indian women’s team showed not long ago that qualification through alternate routes is very much possible. Missing the Asian Games gold is not the end of the world. But sending a weakened team to the World Cup and getting embarrassed? That has a different kind of cost.

Does India actually have a B team? No.

This is the real question. And the honest answer is no.

Let us go position by position.

Goalkeeping is the one area of genuine depth. Krishan Bahadur Pathak, Suraj Karkera, Mohith and Pawan have all been in and around the squad. India has options here and this is the one position where the two-team argument holds up.

On defence, India does have a reasonable number of players. Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Sanjay, Sumit, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Varun Kumar, Yashdeep Siwach and Amandeep Lakra have all been part of squads in recent times. The numbers are there. But the quality of defending, even in the Pro League, has not been consistently convincing. Sending a second-string defence to a World Cup is a serious risk.

For penalty corners, the options beyond Harmanpreet Singh are Jugraj Singh, Amit Rohidas, Sanjay, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Varun Kumar and Amandeep Lakra, who had a decent Hockey India League season. But none of them have come close to Harmanpreet’s level. Every time an alternative drag flicker has been tried, the results have not been convincing enough to challenge Harmanpreet’s place. So if he goes to the Asian Games, who is leading the PC attack at the World Cup? That is not a hypothetical risk. That is a guaranteed weakness going into the biggest tournament in hockey.

Read More: Abhishek, who shoots before other think

In midfield, India has Vivek Sagar Prasad, Nilakanta Sharma, Raj Kumar Pal, Moirangthem Rabichandra Singh, Rajinder Singh, Vishnu Kant Singh and Mohammed Raheel Mouseen all available. On paper, that looks like depth. But here is the problem. Even with Hardik Singh in the squad, India’s midfield has been quite ordinary of late. The Pro League performances have been a concern. If you rest Hardik and ask these players to run the show against England, Pakistan or Australia at a World Cup, that is a completely different ask. These are good players. They are not Hardik Singh.

For forwards, Mandeep Singh is the most experienced option beyond the first-choice pair. Abhishek and Sukhjeet are the key goal threats and everyone knows it. Dilpreet Singh, Araijeet Singh Hundal, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Angad Bir Singh and others have been part of squads and played supporting roles. But they have not led the Indian attack. Araijeet Singh Hundal has scored three international goals. Uttam Singh has two. These are players still finding their footing at senior level, not players you build a World Cup campaign around.

So if you rest Abhishek and Sukhjeet for the Asian Games and ask this group to carry the World Cup attack, India will struggle. And that does not just affect the result. It puts Craig Fulton’s credibility directly on the line. More than that, it tells the world exactly how seriously India takes the World Cup. Not very, apparently.

FIH needs India. And they know it.

Here is something that does not get talked about enough. FIH depends heavily on India when it comes to revenue. They have bent over backwards in the past to make sure India is part of big tournaments. Sending a B team to the World Cup hurts FIH commercially at a time when they are not exactly flush. FIH will not be happy about this and their unhappiness tends to show up in ways that matter to Indian hockey eventually.

The real issue: does the Ministry trust their own coach?

This is the question nobody is asking out loud. The Ministry is paying Craig Fulton’s salary. SAI is funding this entire programme. And when Fulton says one squad, I will manage it, the Ministry overrules him. That is not a scheduling debate. That is the Ministry saying we do not trust you.

You are either backing your coach or you are not. There is no middle ground here.

Fulton said something back in early 2025 that is worth going back to. He said B game won’t cut it at a World Cup. Coach was not talking about tactics. He was talking about the level of commitment and preparation that a World Cup demands from every single player. He saw this calendar coming and he was already warning people.

And while we are on this topic, let us talk about what winning 16-0 against Uzbekistan or 16-1 against Singapore actually does for Indian hockey. The answer is nothing. It does not test your defence. It does not sharpen your penalty corners under pressure. Neither it tells you whether Jugraj Singh can hold his nerve when India needs a goal in a knockout match. All it does is make a good headline. If India genuinely cannot back themselves to beat a struggling Malaysia or Japan with even a slightly rotated squad, that is a much bigger problem than the calendar. That problem is called confidence. And it lives inside the team, not in the opposition.

What Fulton should actually do

Keep the core the same. Harmanpreet, Hardik, Abhishek, Sukhjeet, Manpreet, Mandeep, Jarmanpreet. These players stay in both squads. Change the players around them based on fitness and workload. The rest of the squad already know each other from months of training camps. The wavelength between them will not be an issue.

Also, acting like 20 days between tournaments is some kind of impossible ask is absurd. The Hockey India League just ran for nearly a month. Players were competing back-to-back throughout. These are professional athletes. They train for such scenarios. Twenty days is a rest, not a crisis.

There is also a scenario the Ministry has not thought through. What if India goes out of the World Cup in the group stage or the quarters? Then the same players have even more time to rest before the Asian Games. The exhaustion scenario only happens if India goes deep. And if India goes deep into the World Cup, that is the best possible thing that could happen for Indian hockey right now, Asian Games or not.

One big squad, 22 to 24 players. Core stays the same. Rotate around them. Go for both tournaments. That is not complicated. It is just good planning.

The bigger picture

India last won the World Cup in 1975. Every fan wants to see India perform at the World Cup, not treat it as a warm-up for a continental tournament they will almost certainly win anyway. Sending a B team to the World Cup is not a strategy. It is a message. It says India is choosing safety over ambition.

And quietly, this whole debate has pointed at something Indian hockey has been avoiding for a while. Despite two seasons of the Hockey India League and serious investment in the programme, India still does not have match-winners beyond the core group that everyone can name off the top of their head. The Under-19 team has done well. But the jump from Under-19 to senior level has always been where India loses players. That conversation needs to happen. But that is another article.

For now, the answer is simple. Trust the coach. Keep the squad together. Send one team to both tournaments.

Fulton knows what he is doing. Let him do it.

—

Note: Givemehockey.com has reached out to the Malaysian, Japanese and Pakistani hockey federations regarding their squad plans for this tournament window. This piece will be updated when responses are received.

<p>The post India’s Big Call: Chase World Cup Glory or Secure Olympic Qualification? first appeared on Give Me Hockey.</p>

Several players, including captain Harmanpreet Singh, struggled with fitness during the Odisha leg. With a packed schedule ahead, this camp aims to improve their conditioning.

Busy Schedule in 2026

The year 2026 will be even more demanding for Indian players. They will compete in the Asian Games and the World Cup. The Hockey India League is also expanding, with matches set to be played in five cities.

The Indian coach Crain Fulton speaking about the camp mentioned:

“ It has been a busy season for the players with back-to-back events and high-quality matches. During this camp, our focus will be more on fitness and conditioning apart from introspecting on the recent performances and where we stand in terms of key focus areas. Our efforts now will be towards building up for the matches in the next phase of Pro League in Europe and I will also be interested in seeing how some of the fresh talents live up to the billing.”

After the training camp, players will return to their state associations for the national championships. Once the championships end, they will rejoin the camp to prepare for the European leg of the Pro League, which begins in early June.

Players in the Training Camp

The following players are part of the fitness and conditioning camp.

Goalkeepers

Krishan Bahadur Pathak, Pawan, Suraj Karkera, Mohith Honnenahalli Shashikumar

Defenders

Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Sumit, Sanjay, Jugraj Singh, Amandeep Lakra, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Varun Kumar, Yashdeep Siwach

Midfielders

Rajkumar Pal, Shamsher Singh, Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Nilakanta Sharma, Moirangthem Rabichandra Singh, Mohd. Raheel Mouseen, Vishnukant Singh, Rajinder Singh, Poovanna CB

Forwards

Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Gurjant Singh, Angad Bir Singh, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Boby Singh Dhami, Sudeep Chirmako, Selvam Karthi, Shilanand Lakra, Dilpreet Singh, Uttam Singh

Crucial European Leg Ahead

The European leg of the FIH Pro League will give coach Craig Fulton an early chance to assess the team’s readiness for 2026. India will face Netherlands, Belgium, Argentina, and Australia in this phase of the tournament.

<p>The post Hockey India Fitness Camp: Full List of Men’s Team first appeared on Give Me Hockey.</p>

Amit Rohidas scored the first goal for India in the 13^th minute of the game, pouncing on the rebound from Harmanpreet’s penalty corner. Hardik Singh scored India’s second goal of the game with a beautiful solo run from the left flank.

Indian hockey team started the game strongly, using the number game to end the hopes of young Spanish squad led by coach Max Caldas. Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh had an off game where he fail to score past Spanish goalkeeper Adrian Rafi.

Coach Graham Reid continue to employ both his goalkeepers throughout the match to reduce the workload on veteran PR Sreejesh. Indian defence put up a great show and the goalkeepers rarely had to break a sweat.

Krishan Pathak made a two great saves off Pau Cunill’s penalty corner efforts to dash any hopes of Spanish comeback.

Here are some talking points of India’s 2-0 win over Spain

Tactically Sound Indian team made things difficult for Spain

An important aspect of India’s improved fitness has been how easy it was for the Indian team to transition during the game. Against Spain, India was able to transition efficiently from defence to attack and vice-versa. India’s mercurial forward, Mandeep Singh was always India’s first line of defence as soon as the Indian team lost the ball. The whole team moved as a single unit, defending as well attacking in numbers.

India’s played an effective high press during the game that rarely allowed Spain to string more than two-three passes Indian half. As the game progressed and fatigue started setting in, the Indian team changed their pressing strategy. It allowed Spain to see more of the ball, but any threat was effectively neutralized by the defence.

Crowd at Birsa Munda delivers

The Malaysian crowd at Ipoh during Sultan Azlan Shah Cup is considered the best hockey crowd in terms of support. Yesterday, Birsa Munda Stadium with a capacity of 20,000 fans put crowds of every hockey event to shame with their support. There were huge cheers from the crowd as soon as the Indian team entered the stadium to warm up. The crowd continued to cheer the Indian team during 60 minutes of hockey. Fans in the stadium were especially ecstatic and loud when Odisha’s Amit Rohidas scored the first goal for India.

Great fan support turns a sport into a spectacle. They lift the morale of the team and motivate the team to play well. Hockey fans of Rourkela did just that. With the next game against England to play a decider for group winners, fan support will continue to be of great importance for the Indian team.

Hardik Singh continues to shine

In the 27^th minute of the game against Spain, Hardik Singh stole the ball from the halfway line and ran towards the Spanish goal. Making efficacious of the available space, he went past 5 Spanish goalkeepers and got a deflection to score India’s second goal of the game. The goal he scored yesterday was a near replica of what he did against Great Britain in the Tokyo Olympics.

Blessed with hawk-eye vision and quick feet, Hardik today has become the heart of the Indian team. You can see him everywhere on the field, be it making crucial tackles while defending or supporting the Indian attack with his accurate passing and running. His stature since his debut has just continued to grow.

Amit Rohidas ages like a fine wine

It’s very rare in Indian hockey to see someone become better as they grow older. Rohidas is a fine example of such a player. In the last couple of years, Rohidas has become one of the vital cogs for the functioning of the Indian team. Usually known as one the best while defending penalty corners, Rohidas has started chipping in with goals off late. Amit Rohidas has an x-factor about him. He’s usually invisible throughout the game but he’ll be present when you’ll never expect him to be.

Yesterday against Spain in Hockey World Cup 2023, we saw something similar. He scored the rebound of Harmanpreet’s penalty corner to give India the lead in the 13^th minute of play. Once again, this goal was a near replica of India’s final test match against Australia.

Rohidas’s invisibility during the play is his biggest strength. Backed by great pace, Rohidas will present himself whenever the team needs him.

Read More: Five Players to look out for in Hockey World Cup 2023

Harmanpreet Singh’s jittery start

Not a start you’d expect the captain of the Indian team to have, especially during the World Cup. The first game of the 2023 Hockey World Cup saw an off-colour Harmanpreet Singh. He looked tensed on the field which led him to miss something he never did, penalty corners. His penalty stroke attempt was also a feeble effort at the goal which is unheard of. Captaincy brought out the best in him on the tour of Australia, but the story was different against Spain the World Cup opener.

As the tournament progresses, we hope that he becomes comfortable with the role and the demands associated with it. India needs its best player to shine to achieve World Cup glory.

India will next face England who beat Wales 5-0 in their opening match. You can watch India vs England LIVE on Star Sports Network on 15th Jan at 7:00 pm.

Agree with our assessment of yesterday’s game? Let us know in the comments section

<p>The post India 2-0 victory over Spain: Hardik, Rohidas make headlines first appeared on Give Me Hockey.</p>

Hockey World Cup always dishes out great games for the fans. 1998 World Cup finals saw Teun De Nooijer securing his legendary status by scoring against Spain in extra time. Chris Ciriello scored an incredible hat-trick in 2014 that led Australia rout the Dutch in the finals. Who can forget, Belgium’s run in the last World Cup and the nail-biting final?

The World Cup has always brought out the best in players from around the world. Over the years, we have seen some great performances by the likes of Jamie Dwyer, Arthur Van Doren and Shahbaz Ahmed. This World Cup also has some exciting players, who would be hoping to join the legendary group of players. Here are 5 players to look out for in the 2023 Hockey World Cup.

Dayaan Cassiem

Dayaan Cassiem is the hottest property in the world of hockey right now. The 24-year-old forward from Cape Town has been making waves in international hockey for the last couple of years. Cassiem was impressive in the FIH Nations Cup that got him best player of the tournament award. He has been in top form for South Africa since Tokyo Olympics. He was the top scorer for South Africa in Tokyo Olympics as well as 2022 Commonwealth Games. His ability to dodge and run past defenders is what makes him so dangerous for the opposition. The sort of form and confidence he carries makes him one of the top players to look out for.

Gonzalo Peillat

Gonzalo Peillat will be entering the World Cup with a point to prove. The top goal scorer of the 2014 Hockey World Cup was dropped from Argentina’s side after differences between the management. Touted to break Sohail Abbas’s record, Peillat moved to Germany and missed three years of international hockey due to FIH rules. But, he is back once again in the World Cup, this time representing Germany. In his 12 caps for Germany, he has already scored six goals. An Olympics Gold medal winner in 2016, Peillat would be looking to add a World Cup medal in his trophy cabinet.

Blake Govers

Another big game player, Blake Govers would be hoping to follow his brother Kieran’s footsteps by winning the World Cup. A strong forward, Blake scored 89 goals in 103 appearances for Australia. Blake Govers is also known for his drag-flicking abilities. In the recent India-Australia test series, Govers was the top goal scorer for the Australian team despite playing only three games. A strong forward who loves tearing opposition defences, Govers will also play a role of penalty corner expert. Govers has been on the big tournament podium before, he won silver in Tokyo Olympics and finished third in 2018 Hockey World Cup. With just winner medals left for him to win, fans can expect him to go all out and win it.

Arthur Van Doren

There is no other player who perfectly fits the bracket of an impact player than Belgium’s Arthur van Doren. Named best player of the tournament in the 2018 Hockey World Cup, Van Doren will be aiming for his second World Cup medal. A master in zonal defending, he loves cutting passes to opposition forwards and then assisting with counterattacks to help Belgium strikers. An in-form Van Doren is intimidating on the field and a menace to opposition attackers. At 28, he is in his prime. While few hockey experts have counted Belgium out as favourites, Van Doren would be keen to prove them wrong and win another trophy for Belgium’s golden generation.

Harmanpreet Singh

Indian captain Harmanpreet Singh is one player from whom we can always expect a great performance. In the 2023 Hockey World Cup too, the same will be expected of him. He was the top goal scorer of India in the calendar year 2022 and he’s expected to carry his fine to the year 2023. With the absence of experienced defenders and penalty corner experts in the Indian team, Harmanpreet will have a lot on his plate.

However, FIH player of the year 2020-21 and 2022-22 thrives under pressure. Harman’s quick thinking and lethal drag flicks would be key to India’s progress in the World Cup. Harmanpreet was the top goal scorer for India in Tokyo Olympics, and he would once again be aiming to top the goal-scoring chart to help India win a medal in the World Cup.

Which player do you think will shine in the World Cup? Have your say in the comments section below.

<p>The post Hockey World Cup 2023: Five Players To Look Out For first appeared on Give Me Hockey.</p>

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