India's super-seven that can change the course of the game -- Hockey World Cup 

After a bronze in the inaugural edition 1971, followed by a silver in 1973, Indian men’s hockey team led by Ajitpal Singh won historic gold in the third edition of the World Cup in 1975.

Since then, the Indian side has been struggling to make a podium at the global event.

But this time, the Indian team is better equipped. Apart from the host, the side has an advantage of being the bronze medal finisher in the Tokyo Olympics (2021). The team will be eyeing to end the 48-year old world cup medal drought during the 15th edition to be held at Rourkela and Bhubaneswar, starting from January 13.

The Indian men’s hockey team won the Olympic medal after a gap of 41 years in Tokyo (2021). Twelve of Tokyo Olympics' medal winning squad is part of the 18-member World Cup team.  

We feature the key players – from all departments – that can change the course of the game. 

Defender - 

Harmanpreet Singh: Hailing from Amritsar in Punjab, the 27-year-old ace drag flicker was part of the Tokyo Olympics bronze medal winning squad and was also a key member in the previous edition of the World Cup (2018). 

The confident penalty corner specialist is leading the side at his first major outing after being named the skipper last year. His mental strength adds a maturity to his new role, as a skipper. 

Played in over 150 international matches, he has a credit of scoring over 125 goals. 

“Apart from his good conversion rate of short corners, Harmanpreet is very effective at defence. His skills as a defender are world class and he has a quality of communicating with other players, from defence to forward line, during the entire course of the match. His eye for open spaces clubbed with long passes is extraordinary and at times, the positioning of his long passes changes the course of the game,” says former Indian skipper Sardar Singh.

To be continued 2/3 (Surinder Kumar, Hardik Singh and Manpreet Singh)

3/3 (Akashdeep Singh, Mandeep Singh and PR Sreejesh).