 "Striking it right")
The fourth edition of the Hockey India League (HIL), set to begin on January 18, could, in some senses, reflect the wheel coming full circle for the league. With 2016 being an Olympic year, the 4th edition of HIL is hugely significant as the league was launched back in 2012 in the aftermath of India's poor showing in the London Olympics.
Indian Hockey has come a long way since the 2012 Games. Players from the squad that went to London are now much improved, while there has been a lot of young talent, which, through the opportunity offered by HIL, is now a regular fixture in the national team.
The fourth season will be an integral tournament to assess where the top Indian players stand in the build-up to the Olympics. It will be interesting not in the least because with this being the fourth season, teams have made changes to their squad and many top players have had significant upgrades in their salaries (except for controversially Indian captain Sardar Singh who had a downgrade).
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The premium placed on forwards and youngsters like Akashdeep Singh (21) and Mandeep Singh (20) has a lot to do with the revolutionary new rule where two goals will be awarded for a field goal. While all the six teams have their fair share of overseas representation, including some in the forward line, it is the Indians who are likely to be the biggest beneficiaries of this new rule, especially with the Olympics so close by.
This rule is being trialed at HIL and won't be used during the Olympics, yet with this being an Olympic year where matches can be won or lost on small margins, it will help to have forwards who are brave and look to find the net at even the remotest of opportunities. That's why this new rule could be a blessing in disguise for India in the buildup to the Olympics.
The new rules will obviously put the spotlight on the forwards, but the season will be important to see where many other key players stand. It is an important season for the Indian captain and midfield maestro Sardar Singh who went for a much lower sum than most anticipated at the auction.
Having played for Delhi Waveriders for three seasons for $78,000, he was sold at the last auction to Jaypee Punjab Warriors for $58,000, a sum which meant he was not even amongst the top 10 Indian players. Despite the controversy over his relatively low bid at the auction, Sardar was one of India's best players in the recently concluded Hockey World League Finals in Raipur.
There would also be a sense of optimism that the opportunity to play alongside world-class players such as Mark Knowles and Simon Orchard will spur Sardar to greater heights, which can be a good thing for India with the Olympics set to take place in August. Another player whose performance would be of much interest to India's fortunes at HIL would be defender and drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh, who recovered from a torrid 2015 to have a very good tournament at the Hockey World League Finals in December. Delhi Waveriders showed much faith to buy him back at the auction for $68,000, and in full flow he is an asset to any team he plays for.
These are some names, but the fact remains that HIL will be an important tournament to assess where the entire core group of Indian players stands so close to the Olympics. It will also present an opportunity for new talents to showcase their abilities and take the first steps towards eventually playing for the senior team.
One of HIL's biggest draws has been its ability to attract world-class talent from abroad. This year, though, with a lot of major international talent missing, the gloss has been taken off the tournament. Among those who would be missing are a whole host of Dutch international players, but crucially prominent absentees include the likes of former Jaypee Punjab Warriors goalkeeper Jaap Stockmann and former Uttar Pradesh Wizards striker Jeroen Hertzberger - two players who have been star faces of HIL over the past three seasons. Also missing would be Australian forward Kieran Govers and South African midfielder Austin Smith, again players who have lit up the tournament over previous editions. While the absence of these players no doubt will take the sheen out of the event, at the same time one man's loss is another's gain. One can see more Indians getting opportunities to excel with the absence of top foreign talent from some of the franchisees.
In an Olympic year and with so much resting on the performance of Indian hockey at the Games, one would hope that the players who represent India at Rio are at their best in HIL. While it is not anywhere equivalent to what will be played at the Olympics, the level of competition will be high and hopefully bring the best out of the players.
