Hindustan Times: Rupinder back in India hockey squad for Australia tour

Hockey India (HI) named an 18-member squad on Tuesday for a tour of Australia. India will face Australia A in two games followed by two matches against the senior team, in Perth from May 10-17.

Seasoned drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh made a return to the Indian hockey squad after being left out of the national set up for eight months since last year’s Jakarta Asian Games campaign ended in a disappointing bronze medal.

Hockey India (HI) named an 18-member squad on Tuesday for a tour of Australia. India will face Australia A in two games followed by two matches against the senior team, in Perth from May 10-17. The tour will mark the first assignment for India’s new Australian coach, Graham Reid.

“It is always a good feeling to return to the national team. I hope I will be able to live up the expectations of the new coach,” Rupinder said over phone from Bengaluru.

“It has been a week, we have been training under Graham and he is observing us and our style of play as of now. Our main focus is to prepare well for the FIH Series Finals in June (Bhubaneswar).”

Fellow defender Harmanpreet Singh, who missed the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Ipoh in March due to injury, also returns to the squad while drag-flickers Varun Kumar and Amit Rohidas have been left out.

Forward Akashdeep Singh is back after being rested for the Ipoh tournament while midfielder Jaskaran Singh, who is from Jalandhar, has been selected in the national team for the first time.

Reid hopes the tour will provide valuable inputs about the team. “This tour will provide me with a great chance to know this group of players. It comprises a balanced mix, including some younger players,” he said.

“To be able to play four matches against a world class opposition and a match against club Western Australia Thundersticks will be a great opportunity to test our players under pressure. It provides ideal preparation for the FIH Series Final.”

India last faced Australia at the 2018 Champions Trophy in Netherlands. Australia won their group match 3-2, and in the final, claimed a 3-1 shootout win after the match ended 1-1.