Indian players will benefit from Hockey India League

Few would disagree that the two-year-old Hockey India League is a step in the right direction. But for it to make Indian hockey vibrant and regain its past glory, it still has some catching up to do.

The initiative has done a fair bit to raise the profile of the game, what with the world's top stars playing alongside budding domestic talent. The sport has gained some visibility with fans flocking to the stadiums and television simultaneously catching more and more eyeballs.

It is more true in the case of smaller venues like Ranchi and Bhubaneshwar, which saw capacity crowds even as capital Delhi continued to disappoint. Ironically, it is the Delhi franchise Delhi Waveriders that won the HIL-2 championship in Ranchi last week.

For the greenhorns of Indian hockey, the league is still work in progress. Matching the pace and fitness of players from Germany, Holland and Australia obviously will take some more time but they have done well to adapt to the work ethic of the overseas players.

"Now the boys know to what to eat and how to look after their fitness even when they are not playing. Not like the old times, where they came back from training and gorged on aaloo paranthas. Staying with foreigners has also been an education for these players," HIL boss Narinder Batra told IANS.

It is no surprise that foreign recruits get the bulk of fat cheques while most Indians use the platform to hone their skills and make the national team.

The tournament also gives sidelined players a chance to prove themselves on the big stage.

Drag-flicker Sandeep Singh, who moved to Punjab Warriors from Mumbai Magicians, ended as the highest-scorer in HIL for the second year in a row. The effort was enough for him to be picked among the 33 probables for the World Cup in the Netherlands in May-June.

Right-half Gurbaj Singh too has returned to the national fold after an impressive showing for the Waveriders. So has once WSH rebel Vikram Kanth, who will be part of the national camp after four years.

Increasing the number of teams from five to eight by 2016, as planned by the organisers, will further enhance the quality of the league.

As an international umpire pointed out on a flight from Ranchi to Delhi, the presence of more Germans and Dutch would be a welcome development.

Olympic champions Germany are considered tactical masters and India should be looking at a German coach to see if he can make a difference.