India need to overcome "away" challenges in Glasgow CWG: Dwyer

As in cricket, India are a formidable hockey side in their own den but if the erstwhile giants of the game want to play in their second consecutive Commonwealth Games final they will need to overcome challenges away from home, feels Australian legend Jamie Dwyer.
Dwyer would loved to see an India-Australia duel in the final of the upcoming Commonwealth Games to be held in Glasgow from July 24 to August 3, but he said for that to happen the Sardar Singh-led side will have to "play to their potential".
"One thing I always worry about the current India team is their ability to play away from home. Like their cricket team, the hockey players are unbelievable in India and they thrive in playing in their own country," the 35-year-old mercurial Australian striker told PTI in an exclusive interview from Perth.

"But away from home everything looks different for them be it weather, pitch, food etc. They need to overcome those challenges and play to their potential. I think if they can do that and play to their potential, they will definitely be in the final," Dwyer said.
"I expect them to make the semifinals that's for sure and after that anything can happen from there. I would love to see an India-Australia final even though Australia start as clear favourites," he added.
The 35-year-old Dwyer, a five-time world hockey player of the year, feels India are now a much-improved side from 2010 Delhi Games, where the Kookaburras thrashed the Asian side 8-0 in the summit clash at the Major Dhyan Chand stadium here.

"In the last Commonwealth Games they played well and I think we were just lucky to get that scoreline in the final. But I think they are starting to get much better, much more consistent. They have got more depth in their squad now," he viewed.
"We played Ok against India (in the World Cup). It's hard for me to judge India because we won the final 6-1 but beat India 4-0. They are a good team but they will have to improve a fair beat if they want to be among the best teams in the world.