<b>Hockey India League:</b> Pass, trap, shoot

Shakya Mitra takes a look at some of the key aspects that could shape this season

The stars to look out for

With the world’s best players gracing the league, HIL 2017 is sure to be a spectacle. Here we shortlist some players in each position who could set the league alight.

Goalkeepers: P R Sreejesh (Uttar Pradesh Wizards), David Harte (Dabang Mumbai), Vincent Vanasch (Delhi Waveriders), Tyler Lovell (Ranchi Rays)

Drag-flickers

Rupinder Pal Singh (Delhi Waveriders), Ashley Jackson (Ranchi Rays), Harmanpreet Singh (Dabang Mumbai), Mink Van Der Weerden (Jaypee Punjab Warriors), Gonzalo Peillat (Uttar Pradesh Wizards), V R Raghunath (Uttar Pradesh Wizards)

Defenders

Birendra Lakra (Ranchi Rays), Kothajit Singh (Ranchi Rays), Fergus Kavanagh (Ranchi Rays), Mark Knowles (Jaypee Punjab Warriors), Robert Van Der Horst (Jaypee Punjab Warriors)

Midfielders

Manpreet Singh (Ranchi Rays), Sardara Singh (Jaypee Punjab Warriors), Eddie Ockenden (Uttar Pradesh Wizards), Barry Middleton (Ranchi Rays), Simon Orchard (Jaypee Punjab Warriors), Moritz Fuerste (Kalinga Lancers), S K Uthappa (Kalinga Lancers)

Forwards: Akashdeep Singh (Uttar Pradesh Wizards), Ramandeep Singh (Uttar Pradesh Wizards), Mandeep Singh (Delhi Waveriders), Nikkin Thimmaiah (Dabang Mumbai), Christopher Ruhr (Ranchi Rays), Glenn Turner (Kalinga Lancers), Simon Child (Delhi Waveriders), SV Sunil (Jaypee Punjab Warriors)

The young guns

Harjeet Singh

India won the Junior World Cup held in Lucknow last month. Many of the members of that team are attached to HIL franchisees, with the likes of Harjeet Singh and Harmanpreet Singh having represented the senior national team. Post their World Cup triumph, there will be renewed focus on the young brigade at the HIL, and it will serve as a platform where they could enhance their credentials to eventually join the senior team. Jaypee Punjab Warriors forward Armaan Quereshi, who impressed last season scoring four field goals, is someone whom Halappa feels will have a lot to offer this season.

Attacking play

Uttar Pradesh Wizards forward Akashdeep Singh

Ahead of the 2016 season, a revolutionary new rule was introduced whereby two goals would be credited for scoring a goal from open play, while a goal from a penalty corner would continue to be one goal as it was in the previous editions. It is believed that the reasoning behind this move was to encourage more attacking and free-flowing hockey; there was another school of thought that it would negate teams who were heavily dependent on penalty corner conversions.

The rule, revolutionary though it may be, did not change too many things if one goes by the statistics — in the 2016 season, there were 80 field goals and 55 penalty corner conversions; the season before that, when the old rules were in place, there were 80 field goals and 54 penalty corner conversions.

Former Indian player and current national selector Arjun Halappa says, “It is a fantastic rule and makes the game more exciting. The rule also ensures that a one goal advantage is never safe, it will encourage teams to be more attacking. Last season was the first time it was tried; this year I am sure we will get to see the full benefit of this rule.”

The comeback man

One of India’s best and fittest players, HIL 2017 will see Gurbaj Singh’s return to high-profile hockey after being bought for a cool $99,000 by the Ranchi Rays. In the aftermath of India’s 2015 Hockey World League semifinal campaign, Gurbaj was handed a nine-month ban by Hockey India —though the ban was later lifted, it saw him out of the 2016 HIL as the player auction had already taken place by then. He was also not selected for the Rio Olympics. Halappa, a former teammate of Gurbaj, says, “I have never seen a right-half as good as him, he has everything — skill, tackling, attacking ability. Moreover he is a fighter and does not like losing.”
 

Coal India Hockey India League will be shown on Star Sports 2 and 3 (SD + HD); all matches start at 7:00 PM