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Mandeep Singh staged a comeback to the Indian side for the upcoming Sultan Azlan Shah Cup on the back of a decent performance in the 2015 Hero Hockey India League. The 20-year-old Jalandhar lad first hit the spotlight with a power-packed showing in the 2013 HIL and subsequently made his senior international debut at the 2013 Hockey World League Round Two Event in New Delhi. Mandeep featured in the 2014 World Cup but missed the 2014 Glasgow Commonwealth Games owing to an injury.
He was kept out of the team for the Incheon Asiad but was included in the team for the four Test series in Australia only to be axed for the Champions Trophy. The talented youngster spoke in an exclusive interview.
Q You last played for India in the 2014 World Cup in The Hague. Now you are staging a national comeback after almost a year. How does it feel?
Bahut accha lag raha hai (really feeling good)! To be out of the national side is never a good feeling and I’m really happy to be part of the team that is playing in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup. Keeping fingers crossed.
Q Injuries really played havoc with your career. Your thoughts.
Injuries are never really under your control. After playing in the 2014 World Cup, I was in the camp for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games, but got injured. I sustained a finger injury and was not considered for the Incheon Asiad. So, I’m really chuffed to be in the senior team after a long gap.
Q You recovered from your injuries and played in the four Test series in Australia, but was dropped for the Champions Trophy.
I don’t know whether I was axed as I was selected in the junior team for the five Test series in Australia during the same time when the Champions Trophy was on in Bhubaneshwar. The Australia stint helped me to improve my game and then the Hockey India League enabled me to showcase my prowess and mark a return to the national fold.
Q India’s historic Test win over Australia in Australia was a huge achievement. Tell us a bit about that series?
We really came hard at Australia after losing the first Test 0-4. Winning three games in a row against them in their own backyard is tough and we really played some outstanding hockey to beat the world champions. We showed great energy levels in all the games and the results were in our favour.
Q You had gone on two tours of Australia in a matter of two months – first with the senior and later with the junior team.
I learnt a lot from both these tours. Playing in Australia is always a learning curve and I’m sure it is going to benefit me in the long run.
Q You really caught the spotlight at the 2013 Hero Hockey India League and subsequently made your senior international debut against Fiji in the Hockey World League Round 2 Tourney.
HIL really helped me to grow as a player. I owe a lot to HIL – the league has helped many youngsters to showcase their skills.
Q You played under two captains – Moritz Fuertse and Ashley Jackson in the HIL. How would describe them?
Both are world-class players. Moritz is very good at sending deadly passes inside the opposition ‘D’ with pinpoint accuracy. His passes were like doling out a rasgulla on a plate – you just have to eat it meaning you just have to put the pass into the opposition goalmouth. Ashley Jackson tells us to create penalty corners and assures us that he will convert them for the team. I have learnt a lot playing alongside these high quality players.
Q Talking of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, how do you assess India’s chances?
We will give our best shot and hopefully win the tournament. It will not be easy as world champions Australia, New Zealand and Korea are also in the fray.
