After the Women’s team, Indian Men’s Hockey team will also face Germany in a double header in the FIH Hockey Pro League clash in Bhubaneshwar. The Germans are scheduled to feature against the Men in Blue on 14 and 15th April and therefore Hockey Indian have announced the 22-member squad on Monday for the two matches.
The Indian Men’s Hockey team will be captained by Amit Rohidas as Harmanpreet Singh remains as the vice captain. The 22-member squad includes some of the veterans along with youngsters. Starting with goalkeepers like PR Sreejesh, Krishan Bahadur Pathak, and defenders Varun Kumar, Amit Rohidas, Surender Kumar, Jugraj Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, and Gurinder Singh.
The midfield will be controlled by Nilakanta Sharma, Manpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Shamsher Singh, Hardik Singh, and Moirangthem Rabichandra Singh. In attack, all eyes will be on players like Shamsher Singh, Lalit Upadhyay, Dilpreet Singh and others like Sukhjeet Singh, Abhishek, Mandeep Singh, Shilanand Lakra.
Chief coach Graham has higlighted the important of playing in the Hockey Pro league as it allows the teams to play against top teams in thr world. The Australian also shared how the Indian team has tried out different tactics and style of play only because of this league.
“This year’s FIH Pro League has provided us with great opportunities to try different combinations and tactics. We have recognised what works and, more importantly, what areas we need to improve on. This week against Germany is the last leg of our home games for this year and we are looking forward to two more world-class encounters once again. Germany are always an extremely tough opponent and given where we both are on the ladder it will be important for us to finish this week with as many points as possible to remain at the top of the points table,” Reid stated ahead of the double header against Germany.
The Indian Team has thus far played ten matches in this season of FIH Hockey Pro League. The team is currently at the summit in the points table with 21 points. Whereas visitors Germany are second in the table with 17 points from only 8 matches.
