India forward Sunil says 3-1 series win Down Under was a surprise even for the them
'They must've played their weakest team'. This was the popular sentiment after the Indian hockey team beat Australia 3-1 in a four-match test series in their own backyard.
The series victory came as a pleasant surprise to many. After all, Indian hockey fans are used to seeing their team getting beaten 0-4, 0-6 or 0-8 by the world champions. Thus, when the hosts won the first match 4-0, it looked like the same old story. But the Indians turned it around, quite spectacularly, and most were quick to assume that the Australians fielded their second-string team.
"Well, I don't blame them," forward SV Sunil, who scored two goals in the series, told dna after the team returned from Australia on Tuesday. "We are not used to winning against Australia, and even we didn't expect to beat them before going on the tour. We went there with the objective to learn.
"But let me tell you, the core of their team was the same that won the World Cup (in June 2014). Three players from that team were injured, and they played their five best players from the junior team. It wasn't a weak Australian team that we beat. I wish the matches were televised live, people would've realised then. Only we know what we played against," he said.
It was only a month ago that Sunil missed an easy open goal against Pakistan in the Asian Games final in October. It could've proved costly, but India won the match in the penalty shootouts.
"He will get another opportunity and if he makes the same mistake again, then you've got a problem. I don't think he will," coach Terry Walsh had said of Sunil then.
He didn't.
The 25-year-old scored the all-important equaliser in the second match, single-handedly taking the ball into the D and making no mistake in putting it past the Aussie goalkeeper. The visitors won that match 2-1. In the following game, the 25-year-old was the lone scorer in India's 1-0 win, netting the ball into the goal after a pass from Akashdeep Singh.
The Asian Games miss seemed a distant memory.
"I was really disappointed after missing that easy goal, especially since it was a final. It was a big mistake," Sunil said. "But I went to the camp and worked twice as hard with coach Walsh on my finishing. People told me after the Asian Games that you're a good player, but you need to focus a little more on finishing. I did exactly that.
"My form went down in the Asian Games, and my improvement in Australia was unbelievable even for me. I became a lot more self-confident after my first goal," the Kodagu lad added.
Finishing has been one of India's major shortcomings for quite a while, but the team scored six goals in three matches in Australia. So how did the team turn it around after the opening loss?
"We played the first match well in patches, and even Walsh told us that in our post-match meeting. We had to focus on consistency, speed and counter-attacks. We went through our videos over and over again, analysed our mistakes and worked on them. Most importantly, all the 18 players played a part in it, not just the 11. Our team unity reached its peak," Sunil said.
The hard work paid off, and the team won the next three matches. A cause of celebration, isn't it?
"No," Sunil said. "Walsh told us very clearly to keep our feet on the ground, both after we won the first game and the series. Yes, we are all very proud, but we know we have to go ahead step by step with the target of 2016 Rio Olympics."
Mind you, the team travelled to Australia in the backdrop of Walsh's resignation threat. His deadlock with Hockey India and Sports Authority of India is still on.
"It was very sudden. We didn't know about it until he personally called and spoke to all of us. But he did not let it affect our training. He did not let us get involved in that. Despite all his problems, he was very focussed in the team's performance," Sunil said.
Does he hope Walsh stays on?
"Yes. I think the future looks good for Indian hockey. But every time we do good, something bad happens," Sunil said, breaking into a nervous laughter.
HOW THE TEAM FARED
First match: Australia won 4-0
Second match: India won 2-1
Third match: India won 1-0
Fourth match: India won 3-1
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