As third edition of Hockey India league is set to begin this week, Tanuj lakhina looks at the changes that have taken place in the tournament
The third edition of the Hero Hockey India league (HIl) is all set to begin this week (22nd January) with Kalinga lancers taking on Ranchi Rhinos in Bhubaneswar.
The annual tournament that brings together players from all over the world has found a place in the calendar of the world body for hockey — International Hockey Federation (FIH).
This edition is more important than the previous two as it is coming after a gruelling 2014 that saw all the players representing their respective national teams in various international tournmanets — Commonwealth Games, World Cup, World league rounds, Asian Games and Champions Trophy.
In terms of glory, Ranchi Rhinos (later disbanded) won the inaugural edition and Delhi Waveriders won the tournament in 2014. Delhi also reached the final of the 2013 edition only to lose narrowly by 2-1 in the end.
With India seeing birth of multiple leagues over the years, HIl along with cricket's Indian Premier league (IPl) have been able to sustain themselves and keep the competition running on a yearly basis without any break. Badminton's Indian Badminton league (IBl), for example, was off the calendar in 2014 owing to many other bigger tournaments in the year.
While most things have remained constant going into the third edition of HIl, a few have changed.
Franchises
In 2013, HIl started with five franchises namely Delhi Waveriders, Mumbai Magicians, Punjab Warriors, Ranchi Rhinos and Uttar Pradesh Wizards. The next edition saw the league expanding to six franchises with Kalinga lancers joining the list.
This edition continues the trend with six teams but Ranchi Rhinos and Mumbai Magicians have paved way for Ranchi Rays (owned by Indian cricket team captain MS Dhoni and Sahara Group) and Mumbai's team undergoning a complete makeover under DoIT Sports Management, who have christened the new team as Dabang Mumbai.
There are plans to have eight teams by 2016 and ten teams by 2018.
Team changes
Most teams have stuck to their previous squad baring a few movements. The new team in Ranchi Rays have retained 18-members of the squad from last year while adding six new faces.
The biggest change has been in the Mumbai franchise, who only kept hold of four players from 2014 and added 20 new players to the squad.
They also splurged in the player auction buying Belgian forward Tom Boon for $103,000 — an HIl record for highest fee for a player (his base price was $20,000). They also spent big for Australian midfielder Mathew Swann ($78,000) — second most expensive player in the auction (base price: $20,000).
The third most expensive signing was India's custodian PR Sreejesh, who went for $69,000 as against his base price of $26,000 to UP Wizards.
Such was the windfall during the auction that young Harmanpreet Singh, who performed brilliantly for the Indian junior side last year, was picked for $51,000 by Mumbai (base price: $2,600.
Defending champions Delhi added to their attacking capabilities by picking up New Zealander Andrew Hayward for $41,000.
"We've got a good addition in goal with Sreejesh but we'd be without Teun de Nooijer who has retired. The key aspect would be for us to find the right rhythm, the right combination and play with that." Roelant Oltmans, UP Wizards coach, said.
legendary Australian player Jamie Dwyer, who represents Punjab Warriors, was also positive about the new squad and the tournament. "We have a few new players in the squad. We're at a good level to the lift the trophy if we get a better attack going than the last year and the defence holds up well. We need to keep a good combination in order to lift the title in 27 days time," Dwyer said.
Also upbeat about HIl 2015 is Indian national team and Delhi Waveriders captain Sardar Singh, who put their success so far down to the youngsters and the process of learning from each other. "Youngsters and all the players in the team take it as a good opportunity to learn. Especially for the Indian players, it is a chance to look at foreign players in order to see how they prepare and their body language during a game and the tournament. That's our biggest takeaway from the HIl," he said.
coaches
Gregg Clark headed Ranchi Rhinos in 2014 but the new setup in Ranchi Rays will be coached by Harendra Singh.
Kalinga lancers also see a change in coaching set-up with Jude Felix Sebastian replacing Terry Walsh, whose resignation as coach of Indian national team at the end of 2014 created a lot of controversy, as coach.
German youth team coach Valentin Alntenburg will take the reigns of Mumbai's expensive side in the tournament. Other teams and their respective coaches remain the same.
Rules
Arguably the biggest set of changes will be in the rules. As per the new guidelines by FIH, each quarter will be of 15 minutes as against 17.5 minutes, as was the norm in the previous editions, reducing the game from 70 to 60 minutes.
Dwyer, with 321 caps for Australia, felt the quarter of an hour could fly by in some games. "They fly by sometimes and you haven't even touched the ball!
“But on the plus side, the intensity of the games is higher and movement of the ball is quicker. It has changed the game but it's the same for everyone.
“I've not got fully accustomed to the new rules as I was out injured for four and a half months. I'm orthodox in the way that I liked the flow of two halves of 35 minutes each," Dwyer said.
Other rule changes are more technical. An attacking free-hit awarded within five metres of the edge of the circle can be taken from point of offence as against the previous rule which had the attacking team pull the ball back to the dotted line.
long corners have been abolished. The attacking team will now re-start the play from 23-meter line in order to open up play and have more passing options.
Sardar took the new rules in his stride. "The long corners are completely gone. And you have to re-start play from 23 metres out. We're working on the new rules and forming our strategy accordingly. The 15 minutes give us less time to perform but you have the break in between to talk to the coach and tweak strategy if needed. Sure there is a break in momentum but it is the same for all," he opined.
Sardar sounded confident about defending the crown but was also cautious. "It is a new season. All players and coaches of the teams involved are good. Previous performances are in the past. Our primary focus is on the first game. Target is to improve from our last years' performance by working together.
“We have team-bonding sessions going on which are important for tournaments such as this.
“We wish to play good hockey and entertain the crowd. Everyone in the team is a good player and they represent their respective national sides. There is no reason to be under pressure as long as we continue to work hard," he concluded.