#2 Vokkaliga R Raghunath – Fullback
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Vokkaliga Ramachandra Raghunath has risen through the ranks to instate himself as one of the deadliest drag-flickers in World Hockey today. It is through his stick that a mammoth 129 goals have come India’s way, including the tournament opener against Germany on the first day.
Often criticised for his defensive lapses, Raghunath’s return to international hockey proved all the more delightful when his imposing presence at the back foiled numerous incisive movements by top sides like Germany and Belgium. Given the number of penalty corners India conceded, a decent conversion ratio by the oppositions would’ve had the Men-in-Blue staring at a bottom-of-the-table finish in London.
Apart from keeping out goalward cracks from stirring the scoresheets, Raghunath pitched in with two penalty corner strikes. However, his gritty show in the goalless finale against World No. 1 Australia will go down as one of the most memorable examples of tight defending in the face of unforgiving adversity.
