Delhites shivered through a cold, grey and damp Friday, with the temperature not rising beyond a numbing 12.9 degrees Celsius, the lowest maximum recorded this season, with early nigh temperature around 5-6 degree Celsius.

But the Indian team braved not only the coldest day of Day in this winter, but brought summer on the Dhyan Chand turf, with a heart-warming show against reigning Olympic Medallist Germany.

Sardar Singh’s Indian team, an outfit that was at the hard end of the critic’s stick, stunned Germany to post a comprehensive victory in the 5-8th ranking match on the penultimate day of the 10-day Hero Hockey World League Finals here today in Delhi

Its Sardar Singh, Mandeep Singh, SV Sunil and above all Rupinder Pal Singh who set the turf on fire from beginning to end, to end the long running reign of Germans on the fate of matches that fought against India.

India last defeated Germany in an FIH event in 2004 Champions Trophy at Lohore, Pakistan, under the coaching of German import Gerrard Rach.

But today was a special day, but the kind of things that would shape up the Indian morale was not seen early in the match

When Germany took a two-goal lead in first six minutes, what was expected was a washout on the lines of Australia match in the Indian quarterfinal, but thankfully, the team turned out a champagne stuff to dish out a heart warming 5-4 win, the winning goal coming off the stick of Rupinder just at the stroke of full time.

Germany struck in the 4th and sixth minute with Oliver Korn and Thailo claiming a goal apiece, before Indian Mandeep Singh, who was finally adjudged the Man of the Match, coming up with a goal off the perfect pass of Rupinder to narrow down the score.

However, in the 27th minute, when Benjamin Wess easily made use of a goalie defence, India had to go for break with 3-1 disadvantage.

On resumption, after a brief even keel proceedings, Rupinder converted team’s penalty corner to further narrow the margin, and the came the second goal of Mandeep in the 41st min.

And then the youngster came up with gem of a long pass to give India the lead for the first time.

Then came Martine Haner’s gem of a stuff to sniff out Indian lead 15 minutes before the hooter.

There were hits and misses in this spell, with German weaving patterns, Indian struggling to hold the fort.

When a few seconds left for the final hooter, hardworking Sunil and Sardar launched a hard attack, which got India the last chance to make its history, with a penalty corner in the offing, and Rupinder in form.

When he converted it, Germans went for a referral, which they failed, and then came the Indian summer in the coldest day of Delhi.

This win and the possible fifth position in the world’s top tournament will give India good points that can lift it from below 10th rank where it wallops for long.