Indian hockey new coach gives Sardar Singh fresh lease of life, picks veteran for Champions Trophy

When it comes to Indian hockey, one should never say never.

A little over two months after obituaries were written on Sardar Singh's international hockey career, the former India captain is back in the Indian team, getting picked by new coach Harendra Singh in the 18-member squad for Champions Trophy to be held in Breda, The Netherlands, from June 23.

The end seemed nigh for the 31-year-old midfielder the moment his name was ignored for India's 2018 Commonwealth Games (CWG) challenge in Gold Coast in March.

The then head coach Sjoerd Marijne had made it clear that Sardar's ageing legs coupled with the diversity some younger players offered in the midfield turned one of India's most decorated hockey players into a liability.

However, as is the case with Indian hockey more often than not, things changed rapidly and dramatically.

India's poor outing at the CWG saw Marijne replaced by Harendra. The Indian coach immediately laid down his markers, erasing the ones drawn by the Dutchman.

As opposed to Marijne's plan of dividing the national core group into two halves of 24 post the CWG – with the second one being a developmental squad – Harendra said he will pick a larger pool of 48 players who will be available for selection.

"We have a very large and highly talented pool at the moment, so it's not right to break them down into 24 and 24," Harendra told this paper last week. "For me, all the 48 will be available for national selection, and all 48 will train together with the same objectives."

Sardar was duly named in that group of 48, opening the door for his return in the team, the same door that looked shut barely a couple of months ago.

"It was only the media that was having that speculation, it was never the line from the coaching staff," Hockey India high performance director David John told DNA on Thursday.

"We always said that if Sardar remains fit and continues to do well, he will still remain in contention. He proved that he was good enough to be picked in the 48, and let's see how he goes in this tournament before we pick the team for the Asian Games," he added.

After being toyed around as a forward as well as a defender under the previous coach, Sardar has also got his favourite place back in the midfield.

And, should he, as well as the team perform well at the Champions Trophy, Sardar's dream of carrying on till the 2020 Tokyo Olympics could still be alive.

That Harendra is drifting away from Marijne's youth-only policy can also be gauged by the comebacks of senior pros Ramandeep Singh in the forward line and Birendra Lakra in defence, apart from Sardar.

Forwards Gurjant Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, midfielder Sumit and defenders Kothajit Singh and Gurinder Singh have been axed from the side that went to Gold Coast, while the injured Rupinderpal Singh was not considered.

Young defender Jarmanpreet Singh is the new lone face in the team, while Krishan Pathak has replaced Suraj Karkera as captain PR Sreejesh's back up.

"It's an experienced team," John said. "Changes had to be after the CWG, not just in the coaching staff but also the players.

"However, the team will still not be settled for the Asian Games and the World Cup. If this team does well with this group of players, then they'll have the upper hand over the team that went to the CWG," he added.

SQUAD

Goalkeepers: PR Sreejesh (C), Krishan Bahadur Pathak

Defenders: Harmanpreet Singh, Varun Kumar, Surender Kumar, Jarmanpreet Singh, Birendra Lakra, Amit Rohidas.

Midfielders: Manpreet Singh, Chinglensana Singh Kangujam (VC) Sardar Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad

Forwards: SV Sunil, Ramandeep Singh, Mandeep Singh, Sumit Kumar Jr., Akashdeep Singh, Dilpreet Singh