Vickram Kanth is usually calm and composed when it comes to his on-field and off-field gestures, not letting emotions overpower his demeanour. But, after the match against Punjab Warriors in Bhubaneswar which the Kalinga Lancers lost 1-2, disappointment clearly reflected on his face as he faced the harsh reality of losing his team mate and star drag flicker Gurjinder Singh for the next two matches.
Gurjinder had intentionally hit an opposition player during the course of the match which got him a two-match ban. And as an experienced player and skipper of the Kalinga Lancers team, Kanth knew this would be the turning point in his team’s fortune.
And it did turn out to be the hamper their performance. Without Gurjinder in the next two matches, the team failed to convert penalty corners repeatedly, losing out golden opportunities to score and firm their position in the league.
Meanwhile, the other drag flicker in the team, Argentina’s Gonzalo Peillat, who was the top scorer in the last edition, failed to convert any of the penalty corners.
Not that, Kalinga Lancers were the best team in the tournament, but the absence of Gurjinder was clearly understood.
Kalinga Lancers had a good start and a good end as far as their home matches is concerned, winning their first match against Ranchi Rays with a 6-3 margin. The last home match against Mumbai Magicians too went in their favour, as they wrapped it up with a 2-1 win. What happened in the middle of these two matches is the cause of worry and disappointment.
As coach Jude Felix pointed out, there are three reasons for the Lancers disastrous run in this edition. First is the inconsistent performance, second, is Gurjinder’s two-match ban and third is Gonzalo’s inability to convert penalty corners.
“Gonzalo was the top scorer in the last edition. We don’t know what went wrong this time. In the penalty corners, the push was correct, the stopping was correct, as to why Gonzalo failed to convert the penalty corner is still a mystery to me,” coach Jude Felix reasoned out.
The reasons are valid. But, for the crowd which came in large numbers to cheer for their team, these are merely excuses for them. The Lancers had a disappointing last edition when they finished at the bottom of the pool table and this edition looks no different.
The stadium which was jam-packed last year bore patches of empty seats this time. Agrees skipper Vickram Kanth who says the performance did matter in the crowed thinning away.
“The crowd wants to see us win. They came in large numbers to support us. Our performance would have surely disappointed them.”
After a draw and a win, Lancers might have got back the lost confidence and concentration, but it is a little too late. As they are up to play their last pool match against Delhi Waveriders today, a win would give them only an honourable exit more than anything else.