Fullback Vickram Kanth to captain India ‘A’ team for Bangladesh Test series

A second-string Indian men’s hockey team will play a three Test series against Bangladesh to gain vital exposure before the upcoming Asian Games. Although team is marked by the absence of players from the Commonwealth Games-bound squad, there is a possibility that some of these fringe players could make it to the Incheon-bound squad. Experienced defender Vickram Kanth will captain the so-called India ‘A’ side, while former forward-turned-midfielder S K Uthappa will be his deputy.

The 18-member squad features talented drag-flicker Gurjinder Singh besides medio Jasjit Singh, who made his senior international debut at the 2014 World Cup. The team also comprises Yuvraj Walmiki and Lalit Upadhyay, both of whom were sent as late-minute replacements for the injured combo of Ramandeep Singh and Nikkin Thimmaiah at the 2014 World Cup.

Yuvraj’s brother Devender along with striker Nithin Thimmaiah, who played in the Hockey World Final Round in New Delhi, is also named in the squad.

The team, which leaves for Dhaka on Tuesday, will play the first Test against Bangladesh on August 6 and then have a day off before locking horns in the second Test on August 8. The third and final Test will be played on August 9.

Squad: Goalkeepers: Harjot Singh, Sushant Tirkey; Defenders: Gurmail Singh,     Harbir Singh Sandhu, Gurjinder Singh, Vickram Kant (captain), Vikas Pillay,     Gurinder Singh; Midfielders: S. K. Uthappa (vice-captain), Jasjit Singh, Devinder Sunil Walmiki, Satbir Singh, Harjeet Singh; Forwards: Affan Yousuf, Yuvraj Walmiki, Nithin Thimmaiah, Talwinder Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay.

New Zealand captain Dean Couzins announces retirement

New Zealand men's hockey captain Dean Couzins has announced his retirement from international hockey after his side lost the bronze medal play-off game against England 2-4 in a penalty shootout after both teams played out a thrilling 3-3 draw.

Couzins – one of the solid fullbacks in the Black Sticks backline – represented his country in three Olympics – 2004, 2008 and 2012. The seasoned defender made his senior international debut in 2001 against Malaysia and made 318 international appearances - he is Black Sticks' second most capped player after Phil Burrows.

The 33-year-old seasoned defender played in four World Cups – 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2014 as well as three Commonwealth Games – 2002, 2006, 2010 and 2012 editions.

Couzins will be sorely missed by New Zealand in the 2016 Rio Olympics, where they will bid to corner glory – the only time they won gold was at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

The writer can be contacted at: suhridbarua@gmail.com

India lose 0-4 to Australia, settle for silver

This piece was published in Sportskeeda

India’s hopes of winning its maiden Commonwealth Games hockey gold went up in smoke as a well-oiled Australian outfit thumped them 4-0 in a one-sided final match at the Glasgow National Hockey Center.

The Sardar Singh-led side, which turned in a superb effort to reach the final, had to settle for the silver as his side struggled to match the world champions. To be fair to the Indians, they looked a tad flat, perhaps not recovering adequately from their energy-sapping semifinal against New Zealand as back-to-back matches are never easy and can take a toll on the players. There was no lack of intent from India, but physically they did not seem to be there like the Kookaburras. The biggest solace for the 9^th ranked side will be that they made the CWG final ahead of 5^th England and 6^th ranked New Zealand.

Australia asked quite a few occasions to the Indian defence in the early stages and their persistence paid off when drag-flick expert Chris Ciriello – one of the heroes of their World Cup triumph, including a hat-trick in the final against the Netherlands – fired home a low flick beating PR Sreejesh all ends up.

This was after India muffed their best opportunity to score when Nikkin Thiamiah floundered in the Australian ‘D’ after Ramandeep Singh drilled in a crafty backhanded pass. The Kookaburras forced another short corner in the 20^th minute, but Rupinder Pal Singh blunted it down as the first runner.

India bungled a chance to equalize when Vokkaliga Raghunath’s drag-flick off their  first penalty corner was stopped by Kieren Govers on the line.

India paid for not making the most of the scant opportunities when Chris Ciriello converted Australia’s third penalty corner close to half-time, unleashing a low shot that grazed Sreejesh’s stick en route to the Indian goal.

India tried to up the tempo, but a crowded Aussie defence neutralized their raids as the Terry Walsh-coached side trailed 0-2 at half-time. Ciriello pile on the agony of India, completing a hat-trick converting their fourth short corner in the 49^th minute. The match was literally sealed in Australia’s favour when Eddie Ockenden tapped home a Kierens Govers pass in the 51^st minute.

The winds went out of the Indian sails after that as they seemed resigned to their fate as the Aussies won their fifth successive CWG gold medal.

 The write can be contacted at: suhridbarua@gmail.com                                                     

High-on-confidence India lock horns with world champions Australia

The Indian men’s hockey team will have a tough ask of halting the world champions Australia in their tracks when they meet in the final showdown of the Commonwealth Games being played at the National Hockey Center in Glasgow.

Australia will be a formidable opponent to counter in India’s bid to win their first-ever gold at this multi-sport event, but no one can deny that the Terry Walsh-coached side is playing some superb hockey in the tournament and the soaring confidence of the boys must have led to a belief that they can match Australia.

India will be boosted by the return of regular skipper Sardar Singh, who was suspended for the semifinal tie against New Zealand for unbecoming on-field behavior. The fact that India put it across the Black Sticks 3-2 without the services of Sardar Singh after trailing 0-2 for most part of the first half, must have infused a new-found lift in their game making them feel that they can take on the Kookaburras.

The Australia have lost only one match in the Commonwealth Games – going down 2-3 to South Africa in the inaugural edition in Kuala Lumpur and not just India, even higher ranked teams like England and New Zealand have never beaten Australia at this multi-sport event- just indicates the stranglehold the Kookaburras have on this event.

India’s last win against Australia came at the 2010 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup where they won 4-3. At the Commonwealth Games, India lost thrice to Australia.

The writer can be contacted at: suhridbarua@gmail.com

9th ranked India come from behind to upset 6th ranked New Zealand 3-2, reach final

This piece was published in Sportskeeda

The excitement the Indian men’s hockey team created when they fought tooth and nail against the world champions Australia before going down narrowly 2-4, paved the way for a ‘feel-good factor’ around hockey circles – the belief that this team can take on the best in the business.


The Terry Walsh-coached side was hit by the ‘early goal’ bug once again after a brief hiatus when experienced Simon Child put New Zealand ahead in the third minute of play after he was set up by Arun Panchia from the right, which saw Indian goalkeeper being embroiled in a collision with Hugo Inglis even as the ball rolled over to Simon Child.

Unperturbed by the early goal, India kept charting their comeback plans, weaving moves from both flanks, but it was the Black Sticks, who doubled the lead through Nick Hay off their second penalty corner.

Down 0-2, India showed little signs of nerves and reduced the margin close to half-time when stand-in captain Rupinder Pal Singh converted a penalty stroke after Dean Couzins was hit on the line off Vokkaliga Raghunath drag-flick off their first short corner.


Trailing 1-2 at hall-time, the onus was on India to call the shots and they precisely did that –  Ramandeep Singh leveling the issue in the 43rd minute after Gurbaj Sinigh drilled in a crafty pass from the right.


The second half belonged to India, who dominated the midfield even without the absence of suspended Sardar Singh. Akashdeep Singh churned out the most important match-clincher with more than twenty minutes left for the final hooter, coming up with a superb reverse flick off a Manpreet Singh from outside the New Zealand ‘D’.


The Black Sticks tried to mount a fightback, but India continued to unleash persistent attacks on their citadel leaving them unsettled. As time wore on, they drafted in Dean Couzins as their kicking back replacing goalie Devon Manchester, but India manfully thwarted all their raids to stage a major upset, closing out a fantastic 3-2 win over 6th ranked side after being 0-2 down at one stage.


India will play the Sunday’s final against Australia, who humbled England 4-1. The final will be a repeat of the 2010 edition when Australia scored a crushing 8-0 win.

Confidence India look halt New Zealand

This piece was published in Sportskeeda

High on confidence, the Indian men’s hockey team will have to step up their game against 6th ranked New Zealand in the second semifinal of the men’s hockey competition at the National Hockey Center in Glasgow.

The 9th ranked Indians, who shrugged off their insipid 3-1 win over Wales in the tournament, gradually hit the straps clubbing Scotland 6-2 before raising the game by several notches against the world champions Australia, before losing to them 2-4. The Terry Walsh-coached side then swamped South Africa 5-2 to reach the semifinals in style.

India must look to avoid conceding penalty corners as the Black Sticks have a potent force in drag-flicker Andy Hayward, who has among the goals in the tournament. They will have to watch out for the New Zealand fowardline, who boasts of vastly experienced Phil Burrows, talented Simon Child and Hugo Inglis and create severe damage if allowed any leeway.

In the absence of suspended regular skipper Sardar Singh, India will bank a lot of the likes of Rupinder, Raghunath, Gurbaj and Manpreet to lent solidity in defence and midfield. The likes of Chandi, Sunil, Dharamvir along with youngsters like Akashdeep, Ramandeep and Nikkin will seek to dish out another robust performance.

India have played New Zealand twice in Commonwealth Games – they won 3-1 in the 1998 edition and lost 1-2 Dismiss in the 2006 edition. India’s last win over New Zealand was a 4-2 triumph in the 2012 Champions Trophy. However, India lost the last both teams played in the Hockey World League Final Round in Delhi – India lost 1-3.

Indian hockey eves pip Scotland 2-1 to finish 5th

This piece was published in Sportskeeda
The Indian women’s hockey team settled for the fifth spot after they put it across hosts Scotland by the odd goal in three at the National Hockey Center in Glasgow. It was the Scottish eves, who seized the initiative from the starting hooter, forcing a penalty corner in the 3^rd minute, but Indian goalkeeper Savita foiled that attempt.

India moved forward, but failed to breach the rival citadel. Scotland wasted another penalty corner in the 22^nd minute and the stalemate was not broken as both teams went into half-time goalless.

The first quarter of the second half also did fetch any goals, but Anupa Barla broke the logjam, giving India the lead in the 54^th minute. Scotland took just two minutes to equalize when Nikki Kidd fired home a short corner.

India were no way going to see tense moments in the closing stages as Poonam Rani again pulled her side ahead in the 59^th minute, which turned out to be the match-clincher. Egged on by the home crowd, Scotland went for broke, but India held firm to win 2-1 to finish fifth – a position they attained in the 2010 New Delhi Commonwealth Games.

Interestingly, this was India’s first win over Scotland in Commonwealth Games – they had earlier drawn 2-2 and 1-1 in the 1998 and 2010 editions. The Ritu Rani-led side earlier lost to South Africa to bow out of the semifinal race. Indian eves had earlier beaten Canada 4-2, lost to New Zealand 0-3 and smashed Trinidad & Tobago 14-0.

The writer can be contacted at: suhridbarua@gmail.com

India suffer Sardar blow ahead of semifinal clash against New Zealand

The Indian men’s hockey team suffered a massive blow with captain Sardar Singh ruled out of the crucial men’s semifinal match against New Zealand on Saturday after being found guilty of unbecoming behavior.

The Indian skipper was reprimanded following his yellow card in the Pool A match against South Africa, when he went in for a sliding tackle, thus sitting out the closing five minutes of play.

Sardar was earlier  reprimanded for hitting Eddie Ockenden on his face during the high-voltage India-Australia game. The FIH’s appeal jury took cognizance of his on-field behavior and slapped a two-game ban, which was reduced to one match after Hockey India raised the banner of protest. 

The writer can be contacted at: suhridbarua@gmail.com