INDIA BRACE FOR HECTIC SEASON

Sultan Azlan Shah hockey tournament: Familiar terrain for Team India, but a different challenge in store

                                                                   

Argentina? Olympic champions and World No 2. Australia? Title holders and World No 1. India couldn't have requested two greater tests to kickstart their Sultan Azlan Shah crusade in front of what is probably going to be the greatest nine months for most players — Commonwealth Games, a conceivable Champions Trophy visit, Asian Games took after by a World Cup at home.

To handle those tests, the administration has allowed to 36 players since the Asia Cup last October (just a single, Varun Kumar, has been picked for each of the four meets under Dutch mentor Sjoerd Marijne). In the year's first competition — invitational 4-Nations meet in New Zealand — the Men In Blue gave introductions to four players. In a proceeding with a subject, three more have been called up out of the blue at Ipoh. Be that as it may, the test for Marijne in Malaysia is genuinely unique to what his quick antecedents confronted.

Any semblance of Roelant Oltmans utilized Azlan Shah to manufacture a gathering in front of tests toward the finish of the season. Marijne should utilize it to recognize his best among the rest (regulars like PV Sreejesh, commander Manpreet Singh and drag-glint Harmanpreet Singh have been refreshed).

Aside from recognizing adolescents and fringe players who will frame the centre gathering amongst now and the finish of the year, there is a conceivable Sardar-molded cerebral pain that Marijne should fight with. On the off chance that a couple of reports are to be trusted, this will be the previous skipper's last meet. His captaincy, if the hypothesis is anything to pass by, was a brilliant handshake organized by HI.

At the point when Express inquired as to whether there is a grain of truth in those reports, the 43-year-old mentor was shocked. "Waste. We sit through and watch the exhibitions of all the centre probables and it's the same with Sardar. For what reason not pick (him) when he is great? Youthful, old, new... it doesn't make a difference. On the off chance that exhibitions are great, they will play."

That is the other thing that has stood out as truly newsworthy — Marijine's gathered proclivity to picking youths over senior figures. It's a charge he disproves. "I believe that is a misconception. There is a discernment that we are simply after youthful players. That is not valid. We are great players. Because the group has a couple of adolescents doesn't mean I don't care for seniors."

One quality he trusted the group will indicate — and keep on developing — is 'consistency'. That has been a bogeyman yet Marijne, who is content with the duty the group has appeared since moving to a player-driven approach, is confident. "They indicated it in New Zealand. Presently the test is to reproduce that constantly."

Will the mentor's invitation to battle manage any organic product? Friday's opener will offer more confirmation.