5 Indian players who could play a key role in the Six Nations Invitational Tournament
Come Monday, Indian men’s hockey team will take on 2008 Beijing and 2012 London Olympic gold medallists Germany to start the Invitational Six Nations Cup at Spain’s Valencia.
Featuring Germany, Argentina and Ireland, this event will provide India with a welcome opportunity to get familiarised with the very nations they will face in their Pool B matches at Rio Olympics in August. Spain and New Zealand being the other two sides, the Men in Blue will, therefore, not be taking this series lightly under any circumstances.
Encouraging for India will be the return of big names like Rupinder and Sardara Singh into the 20-member squad that has been announced. With Harmanpreet and Harjeet included again, coach Roelant Oltmans makes it clear that he is aiming for the perfect mix of talented senior and junior players to fire for India.
Let us now take a look at 5 such players who could be key for a positive Indian show:
#5 Ramandeep Singh
In the upcoming tournament, India’s leading top scorer at the recently concluded Champions Trophy 2016 Mandeep Singh makes way for Ramandeep, who had been rested by coach Roelant Oltmans after a long and hectic hockey schedule continuing up to the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia this April.
A dependable forward amongst the Indian ranks today, Ramandeep Singh has made quite a name for himself by scoring vital goals at critical junctures that have propelled India to favourable results in crunch matches. Having featured in the senior side on 67 occasions, he makes a fearsome attacking duo with SV Sunil and gets himself at positions where India look more likely to score off the chances created – which will again be desired this week at Valencia.