The Indian team was outplayed by the Aussies in all departments of the game in their Champions Trophy match on Tuesday. Had it not been for goalkeeper Devesh Chauhan, who came up with another sterling display, India would have lost by an even bigger margin.
Except the initial ten minutes of the first-half, the team looked a tired lot, mentally and physically. One fails to understand why coach Rajinder did not substitute Dharnraj Pillay and Baljit Dhillon. He should have given the tired legs of his most experience forwards some rest. Is it that he has no faith in Tejbir Singh? Or did he forget that he had players on the bench?
One of the most comical instances was when Vikram Pillay took the field and was replaced after hardly a minute. In a match that is so hotly contested, a short break for the tiring forwards would, in my opinion, have done a lot of good.
Somehow, I feel we, Indians to be specific, cannot accept the fact that sitting on the bench is not a disqualification. Making a player sit on the bench does of mean discounting his playing capabilities. It is just that when certain situations arise, it is necessary to substitute a player to bring about the desired result, even if it means benching your main players.
Both Pillay and Dhillion have not been able to strike form and the faster Rajinder realises that, the better. There is no harm in trying Tejbir for short spells. Dhanraj has been struggling with his endurance and it will be in the interest of the team that he is rested. In fact, it would be fair to himself that he opts for the bench whenever things are not going well for him upfront.
The fact that India were able to force just two penalty-corners in the entire game speaks volumes for the team's poor all-round display. There was absolutely no coordination between the defence, midfield and forwards. The huge gaps in midfield gave the Aussies enough space to rattle the defence, where Kanwalpreet Singh cut a sorry figure. He was just unable to react quickly and cut off crosses that the Aussie forwards kept supplying into the circle, as a result of which Chauhan was kept busy right through. In fact, his failure to clear the ball paved the way for Australia's first goal. From then he was at sixes and sevens when under pressure.
One would have expected the coach to substitute him, but then it seems the team has no one to take his place in defence. Jugraj Singh can, but he too is suspect while backtracking and under pressure.
Needing a victory to stay in the hunt, the Aussies came up with a crisp display of flowing hockey. They may have frittered away as many as five penalty-corners, which must be a worrying factor, but their excellent teamwork was enough to see them through.
Grant Schubert, who was on target thrice, was, without doubt, Australia's hero, as was Chauhan for India. Besides saving a penalty-stroke, the Indian keeper saved at least four sure goals.
So where does the team go from here? It has got two more games, one on Wednesday, against Argentina, and the next against Pakistan. Those who have played this tournament in the past will definitely say all is not over, yet. It may sound foolish, but the Champions Trophy has always had some ugly twists and turns and this tournament is not going to be any different.
We are half way stage and the boys still have a slender chance of at least finishing among the top three. All they need is to regroup, beat Argentina and get those three important points. Then the match against Pakistan could be a different story.
After the performance against Australia there won't be many giving them a chance. But it is up to Dhanraj and the boys to prove them wrong!
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- Mervyn Fernandis represented India at the 1980, '84 and '88 Olympics. He also captained India at the junior World Cup in Versailles, France, in 1979.
