All six teams in the hugely popular Hockey India League are equally firing, enormously entertaining, and near-equal outfits. Otherwise, the league would not have turned out to be such a sequence of the fantastic contests.
When the world’s best decide to descend on India, attracted by the charisma of the HIL, team compositions cannot be otherwise. That’s why the league has become such hot property in the hockey world today. Its influence cuts across continents; no doubt on that score.
All teams have fortified their defence with the world’s best defenders and goalkeepers, and have also built a solid midfield that acts as their pivot. The variation between the teams, if at all, is in the forward line. Forwards, as you know, are always like the game of roulette. Some time they click, sometimes not. Therefore, I won’t hazard a guess as to the winners of Saturday’s clash between the Ranchi Rays and Punjab Warriors. Ranchi Rays will have the home advantage. But, the visitors are so blessed with such veterans in the mould of Sardar Singh and S Sunil that it may not impact them much. They are battle hardened. Even otherwise, Punjab Warriors have more experienced guys in their line up than the Ranchi Rays. Thus, the advantages automatically cancel each other out.
One weapon the hosts have for sure is Ashley Jackson. I have hardly come across a midfielder who flicks the ball so well in penalty-corner drills. All the same, having been a part of the HIL family myself, and having played the last season, I can say one thing that pertains to team members gelling together.
Each team consists of domestic and foreign players in a 12:8 ratio. The team which will showcase the perfect combination between the two will come out with flying colours. Manpreet Singh, Birendra Lakra and Kothajit Singh will count for Ranchi Rays, while the Sardar-Sunil combine will come into focus for the visiting side.
If the match transpires into field goals versus penalty-corner goals, then Punjab will have the edge. The beauty of sports is that one never knows what is in store. More so in the exciting HIL.