Cause for concern: The forward line
Going into the tournament many believed the forward line to be India’s biggest cause for concern with a true goalscorer missing. Three games on and the spotlight has not been on them due to the team’s good performances. But one can’t overlook the fact that the forwards are yet to score.
While the likes of SV Sunil, Thimmaiah and Ramandeep have been impressive on the break and with their nifty stickwork, they are yet to create many scoring opportunities worth remembering. Whilst Nikkin Thimmaiah missed a gilt-edged opportunity against Germany that came back to haunt them later, Akashdeep meanwhile didn’t have his shooting stick on hand in this game.
In fact, it was Kothajit’s opportune flick that sought out the back of the net as the Indian forwards got muffled in the melee of players in the opposition D. If India are to worry the big shots like Netherlands and Australia going forward, their best way of defending is to defend from the front and that will only be possible when the Indian forwards find form. Roelant Oltmans and the billions back home in India would certainly hope it’s soon.
