How Indian hockey team is a strong contender for Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2018

#6 Can India go all the way?

Australia will be the team to beat at the Azlan Shah Cup

In gruelling tournaments of this nature, quite often there is no respite with teams having to play two (and sometimes three) high-intensity matches on the trot. India has long had a problem in this regard.

Tigers in one match, lambs in the next

With a head-to-head record that is tilted in favour of Australia, and in no small measure (80-22) at the last count, the Indians need to be at their absolute best against Colin Batch's all-conquering side.

They were indeed at their very best in the HWL Final opener in Bhubaneshar. India launched speedy attacks right from the opening whistle, giving the Aussies a taste of their own medicine and effectively so.

The marauding Indians caught Australia unawares, penetrating the Australian circle repeatedly and even took the lead much to the delight of the Bhubaneshwar crowd. After a while, however, they failed to keep the momentum up and the intensity going but managed a creditable draw.

What is of concern is that in the very next match against England, they looked totally off-color and a shadow of the side that so dazzled against the kookaburras.

England have not been in the best of form recently. That said, however, England beat India in Bhubaneshwar in a match where they seemed totally in control against their higher-ranked opponents winning 3-2.

The Indian midfield and defence made crucial errors on the day and seemed to crumble. India will need to justify their ranking and set the record straight when they face England in Ipoh.

Argentina were brilliant in defence in the Hockey World League in Bhubaneshwar last year and thwarted the Indian strikers time and again to win 1-0. India, no doubt, would have learned a thing or two from that encounter which they can hopefully build on.

So, self-belief is the key and if Sjoerd Marijne can inspire India to play fearlessly, maybe they can get the better of the Kookaburras too. That indeed would be a dream gift for Indian hockey fans at home and around the globe.