3. Strike the perfect senior-junior balance
Several youngsters have been called up to the national side following a string of consistent displays in domestic and international leagues.
20-year-old Harmanpreet Singh has been the pick of the lot, stepping it up in every game the coach has entrusted him with, creating multiple chances and scoring from the spot with his clinical drag-flicks. Having played alongside Rupinder in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup at Ipoh, Harmanpreet will be partnering the far more experienced VR Raghunath when they take the field in London.
Staying true to its effective rotation policy, the Indian selectors have brought in 21-year-old Vikas Dahiya as the second choice goalkeeper to complement captain Sreejesh under the woodwork.
It has been a matter of grave concern that our talent pool hasn’t been able to name a steady backup goalie after Sreejesh for quite a while – Akash Chikte and Harjot Singh couldn’t fare the way we’d have wished in the Malaysia tournament.
Whether the new combinations succeed in sealing the chinks at the back and provide some additional firepower in attack is something we are eager to find out at the Champions Trophy.
