The return of experienced SV Sunil and talented Yuvraj Walmiki will give a strong boost to India, who on Wednesday announced an 18-member squad for the upcoming Hero Hockey World league starting this Friday at the Major Dhyan Chand National stadium here.
Sunil, who has 125 international caps, was out of the national team since August last year after he suffered a ligament tear in his left elbow during a training session for the Asia Cup. The Indian team was missing his speed and experience upfront and now that the 24-year-old star striker has returned, the team management would be relieved.
Walmiki, on the other hand, was dropped from the squad for lack of form and injury after the 2012 Champions Trophy. Apart from the duo, Sardar Singh-led India has other striking options in youngsters like Nikkin Thimmiah, Mandeep Singh and Affan Yusuf.
Yusuf's inclusion, however, raises a question on the selection of the team as the Under-21 coach Gregg Clarke didn’t pick Yousuf for the Junior Hockey World Cup saying that the Bhopal-lad didn't fit in the team.
In other major selection overhaul, Harjot Singh replaced PT Rao as the second goal-keeper to vice-captain PR Sreejesh.
VR Raghunath (148 caps) and Rupinderpal Singh (77 caps) will be the main defenders and penalty corner specialists.
Considering that, India have only three players with more than 100 games under their belts, skipper Sardar has the youngest team in the tournament to take on world's best. The talismanic player knows that it is a tough test.
"We’re a young team and still learning. We’ve prepared well for the tournament. We’ve a tough challenge ahead of us. Hopefully, the boys will be at their best. We are hoping for a 4th-5th place finish. But we’ll have to work really hard for it," the centre-half said at the Trophy unveiling ceremony of the inaugural edition of the competition. "We’ve an exciting year ahead. There couldn't have been a better opportunity to test ourselves in a competition like this. We’ve high hopes from this year. Hopefully the team will also step up to the challenge," he said.
India are grouped with England, Germany and New Zealand and face England in their opening pool encounter on Friday.