India Pak draw: Adorable Transformational phase is evident

The mighty Netherlands lost poorly in the The Hague World Cup final exactly a year ago. There was an unmistakable take away.

It was a dramatic anti-climax in a city which called itself Hockey City, where buses and market centres were replete with home country hockey billboard, including one showing present Indian coach, then leading the host’s challenge, with his son who was part of the Dutch team.

Normally speaking such a hype, but the 1-6 reversal in the final, that too a day after their girls won their World Cup, should have seen mayhem on the ground whenever Aussie struck a goal. The ground must have been strewn with whatever the crowd could have laid hands on.

It was not. Not even an empty water bottle was thrown at. No anti sloganeering either. Not even fans showing fingers at their own losing but national team members.

Instead there was an appreciation for the winners.

True, the story would have been different had it been some other pro games such as football, but what would have happened had Pakistan or any other country defeated India at home or Pak at home.

The peculiar South Asian hockey phenomenon underscores the society’s unqualified thirst for success on sporting fields come what may.

If one looks at this kind of societal behaviour, then the Friday’s Antwerp result, an exciting draw between the two hockey giants may not have enthused mass at large across India and Pakistan.

But the great take away from the Match of the Tournament at Antwerp is transformational change that is laden in the Indian team.

India did not go for the first minute goal, nor does it concede one in the last seconds.

India did not try to match every move, nor did it indulge in fruitless individual ‘gallery’ shows.

India worked on ball possession, believed in the dictum that the only way to frontline is backpasses. These need perfection in distribution of ball and trapping perfectly in every situation.

Goals occur, unlike the Asians, the new coaches believe not after dodging half a dozen defenders inside D – the ones Mohd Shahids and Dhanraj Pillays – but through long passes from either flanks and midfields. India did score two goals this way.

The starting phase and the entire fourth quarter proved Indians gave up vexed all the balls are meant for attack mindset.
Instead, the Indians played perfect long pass game, even more perfect back-pass set pieces.

But India did not succeed in outscoring Pakistan. Correct. Ramandeep struck two goals, but he did miss a millions too. Nikkin too did the same. Once Lalit too failed to connect. So also a few other frontliners.

What should we understand at this juncture is that we are sending the ball inside D, not by individual skills but through collective midfield effort. Long balls reach circle with regularity and were genuine efforts from forwards to utilize the way Australians, Germany or the Netherlands would do.

They were not much successful, but the transformation in approach is crystal clear.

There is energy conservation, there is aggression but not at the cost of team’s cause and personal perspiration.

Indian hockey is on a healthy transformational phase, which a series of Euro brand advocates such as Jose Brasa and Terry Walsh laid foundation for.

With time India will reach next level, that is to outscore the rivals.

An Indian team that had missed out two starlwarts at the backline, and has almost ten players with less than 50 international caps compared to bulk of rival team with double experience in terms of caps, had drawn Pakistan is a good augury.

A win at any cost is unkind expectation.

The draw may not set either country on celebration, but India can derive enormous satisfaction that they are tactically and technically on right path.

Result will follow.

India will appreciate hockey team’s growth only if would develop a healthy crowd behaviour one witnessed at The Hague.

This transformation will triumph, of course at Rio.