Whenever regime change occurs in the Indian Hockey Federation, the national team goes in for overhaul with the resultant recall of stars. The process of recall after each regime change has become so routine that it could well be termed a ritual or even a PR exercise. Mostly, the recalls, necessary or unnecessary, hardly sent right message to the public at large.

Firstly, the flurry of recalls sounds as if the ills of the by-gone regime were due to faulty team selection, which need not be the sole truth. Teams may have lost a crucial tournament because of mishandling by a coach or the alike. IHF regime changes are necessited because of maladministration, not because of selection hassles.

Secondly, most IHF regimes were thrown out due to insensitivity and failure or miscalculation from the part of incompetent coach. In this context, recalls diverted the real issues such as competent coaching and lack of vision in administration.

The situation now in the Indian hockey is different. Here, the regime changed not now but nine months ago. So the recent recall of stars, from Deepak Thakur to Hariprasad cannot be termed as an PR Exercise, even if there is attempt existed to that effect that won’t carry weight.

Only one recall that was often mentioned in the wake of Chile Olympic Qualifier was of Sandeep Singh. That issue was settled by the wrecker in chief KPS Gill himself. Sandeep was taken in for the Sonepat camp at the insistence of Junior Coach AK Bansal even before the IOA disgraced him by dissolving the IHF. Gill has thus denied the obvious joy for the new regime.

Therefore, now we, in a cool atmosphere, with no tags attached, can have a look at the team that was announced by Harender Singh whom the Ad-hoc Committee officially terms Coach-in-Charge.

Harender was often on record that he would accord top priority to fitness and form, keeping targets in 2010 in mind. Good.

Viewed from this perspective, the recall of Deepak Thakur, Arjun Halappa, Vikram Pillay and Hari Prasad merit serious assessment.

Deepak was dropped exactly 33 months ago. Arjun Halappa and Hari Prasad 24 months ago whereas in the case of medio Vikram Pillay it was 27 months ago. VS Vinaya also comes in the list of long hiatus from international duty, but made his comeback after Chile Olympic Qualifier – in the double leg Australia 4-Nation.

It is heartening Arjun Halappa’s worth was recognized. Arjun is an asset in the team, not for his artistic skills, but also for holding and pepping up the game. He is also tireless, brainy and prime mover. Deepak’s focus has been questioned by Rajinder Singh Jr, coach in the large part of 2005. He needs to prove his worth on the big stage. The big gap he had since the Commonwealth Games will weigh on his ambition. He must have regained some of the form, lest he would not haven been in.

That four of the five comebacks (including Vinaya) are from the domestic outfit that coach Harendera is from, the onus lies on the shoulders of the foursome to prove their choice is demanding on form. There is no doubt they will prove so. In all, there is a theory floating amidst a group of players that the 2001 Junior World Cup Goldies are purposefully targeted. All these players, barring Vinaya, are from the famed Hobart Heroes Hall of Fame. Their selection now should now assuage them. Now that they have got a chance, they need to prove themselves yet again, having played so many tournaments in the past won’t cut much ice.

We, who sit the seat of judgment, need to wait, wait our chances to witness them in true arenas before accepting or negating the choices made. So, s2h keeps its eyes and ears open, wishing all the selected a happy outing.

If you leave out the five, most others in the team are on expected line, luckily no vendetta seemed to have been played. Continuance of Bharact Chikara, Baljit Singh, V Raghunath, Sardar Singh, Rajpal Singh, Prabhjot Singh – all obvious choice of Joaquim Carvalho – accentuates the policy of continuance.

One’s heart bleeds for William Xalxo and Ignace Tirkey in particular and their stand by status need a closer look. You either need them or not. There seem to be a dilemma. They are within the system and let us wait for the final word on the talented duo.

Brief profiles of GenNext 22

Adrian D’Souza: goalkeeper, Caps 89, Last International played: 2008 Azlan Shah Cup
Arjun Halappa: Forward Caps 162, Goals 27, Last International played: 2006 Asian Games
Baljit Singh, goalkeeper, Caps 28, Last International played: 2008 Australia 4-Nations
Bharat Chikara, forward, Caps 20, Goals: 1, Last International played: 2008 Olympic Qualifier
Deepak Thakur, forward, Caps To be, Goals 69, Last International played: 2006 Commonwealth Games
Dilip Tirkey, defender, Caps 357, Last International played: 2008 Olympic Qualifier
Gurbaj Singh, midfielder, Caps 31, Goals: 1, Last International played: 2008 Azlan Shah Cup
Hari Prasad, forward, Caps: 59, Goals: 6 Last International played: 2006 Asian Games
Prabodh Tirkey, midfielder, Caps 101, Goals: 1, Last International played: 2008 Olympic Qualifier

Prabhjot Singh, forward, Goals: 62, Last International played: 2008 Australia 4-Nations
Rajpal Singh, forward, Caps 66, Goals: 28, Last International played: 2008 Australia 4-Nations

Ravi Pal Singh, forward, Caps 7, Goals: 0, Last International played: 2008 Australia 4-Nations
V. Raghunath, defender, Caps 50, Goals: 40, Last International played: 2008 Azlan Shah Cup

Sandeep Singh, defender, Caps 77, Goals: 42, Last International played: 2008 Azlan Shah Cup
Shivender Singh, forward, Caps 64, Goals: 32, Last International played: 2008 Azlan Shah Cup

Sardar Singh Caps 57, Goals: 3, Last International played: 2008 Azlan Shah Cup
Sarwanjit Singh, forward, Caps 9, Goals: 0, Last International played: 2008 Azlan Shah Cup
SV Sunil, forward, Caps 20, Goals: 6, Last International played: 2008 Azlan Shah Cup
Tushar Khandkar, forward, Caps 137, Goals: 32, Last International played: 2008 Australia 4-Nations
Vikas Pillay: Punjab Gold Cup (yet to come)
Vikram Pillay: Caps 128 Goals 5, Last International played: 2006 World Cup
VS Vinaya Caps 82, Goals: 2, Last International played: 2008 Australia 4-Nations