No Sandeep & Shivendra; Sardar skipper

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The FIH Champions Trophy in Australia next month is being seen as the start of the rebuilding process of Indian hockey, which hit rock bottom after the disastrous showing at the London Olympics.

Team India will leave for Australia later this month for the Lanco International Super Series which will precede the Champions Trophy.

The revival of Indian hockey process seems to have begun with senior players in the team either being axed or ‘rested’.

While Bharat Chetri and Ignace Tirkey were dropped from the core group last week, the team announced by Hockey India on Monday is without drag-flick specialist Sandeep Singh and striker Shivendra Singh, both of whom struggled with their form in London.

The 18-member team will be led by midfielder Sardar Singh, who has been rewarded for his consistency.

According to team sources, Sandeep has not been ‘dropped’ but ‘rested’ and will be back in the squad after the Champions Trophy. But the same cannot be said about Shivendra.

The Indian Airlines star, who put up a mediocre performance in the Nationals last month is yet to fully recover from a hamstring injury and has failed to find form and speed at the camp which is currently underway at Patiala.

“It feels good to be leading a team, but that does not put any pressure on me and I will continue to give my best on the field. We have a young team, the immediate task will be to keep the team together and rectify our mistakes from the London Games and we are in the process of doing it,” said Sardara.

Honoured, says Raghunath Karnataka lad V.R Raghunath has been named Sardara's deputy. In the absence of Sandeep, the onus to marshal the defence will now be on the strappy 28-year-old from Coorg.

Speaking about his new role, Raghunath said, “It's an honour to be named the vice-captain of the national side. This additional responsibility will motivate me further as we embark on a crucial journey Down Under. We, as a team, will put our best foot forward.”

Senior team camper Harbir Singh has taken Sandeep's place in the squad, while former Indian junior team skipper Akashdeep Singh has replaced Shivendra in the forward line. Another junior, Gurmail Singh has been included in the midfield. Riding on the strength of his performance at the Nationals, city lad Nithin Timmaiah finds a berth in the squad.

Team: : Goalkeepers: PR Sreejesh, PT Rao; Defenders: V.R Raghunath (VC), Rupinderpal Singh, Harbir Singh; Midfielders: Sardar Singh (C), Kothajit Singh, Birendra Lakra, Manpreet Singh, Gurmail Singh; Forward: S.V Sunil, Gurvinder Singh Chandi, Danish Mujtaba, S.K.Uthappa, Nithin Thimmaiah, Yuvraj Walmiki, Dharamvir Singh, Akashdeep Singh.
FIH Champions Trophy, Melbourne Dec. 1-9.
Groupings: Pool A: India, England, Germany and New Zealand,; Pool B: Australia, Belgium, Netherlands and Pakistan.