Vikas Pillay Gets to play – after all those misses and hits

He has been straight away in the senior camp. Thankfully, he had been selected for the national team too. But bouts of injury and once even lack of proper travel documents came in the way of Pune’s Vikas Pillay’s vikas (welfare).

But braving all odds, Pillay has made it. He is in Singapore now with the Indian team.

Vikas Pillay, youngest of Pune’s fast emerging what is little known as Pillay clan – it has nothing to do with namesake Dhanraj — is ultimately donning the colours after all those misses and hits.

The younger brother of Vickram Pillay was selected for Under 18 competition when Dr. Bose was the coach, but had to miss the outing as he was not having passport.

Then late in the last year, national coach Harendra gave him a rare opportunity to break into the senior team for the Test Series against Argentina.

He developed shin injury, and had to miss.

“What can I do sir, when injury is there, what I can do” is what the smiling sibling said when asked about those missed opportunities.

After seeing him practice on Saturday, one can easily say he is brimming with confidence, injury having been closed in completely. He has style, speed, and ball control acumen as well.

When asked how he feels on his maiden tour, he does not go blush. “No sir. It’s my second visit to Singapore. I came here last year to play 9-a-side. We (Air India) came second. Before that we played another 9-a-side in Malaysia and won. I went to Russia last year for a 4-Nation”.

So, the young lad is not unduly perturbed of the forthcomig big stage.

Coaches played him at left wing against Chile and Germany, and he got the befit of right kind of oppotunities in the shot run up here.

Having been the much talked about new face in the team, Pillay waits for the big day.

Goalkeeper Harjit Singh is another new face in the team, but unlikely to get any chance to play, unlike the case of Pillay Jr.

Victo Singh is expected to move inside positions or midfield to make room for sureshot Pillay to sweat out at left wing.

Hockey followers can look forward to some excitement with this bubbling youngster getting break on to the Seng Kang Sports & Recreational Centre.

Pillay plays for Air India since 2006, as a stipend beneficiary after did his schooling at All Saints Higher Secondary school, Pune.

He feels Australia is the team to watch here in the World Cup. It is his gut feeling. “I watched them practice here, yet to see them in matches”.