Baskaran hopeful of India’s prospects in the World Cup

India’s Olympic gold medal-winning captain V. Baskaran believes the current team is well prepared for the Hockey World Cup to be held in Belgium and the Netherlands from August 15.

Speaking on the sidelines of the renaming and relaunch of the Hockey Tiruvallur as Tamil Hockey League, which will feature 12 teams this year, the 75-year-old backed the side coached by Craig Fulton.

“I feel India is the best-prepared team. I think it is a balanced side. We have two players appearing in their fourth World Cup, six or seven in their third, a couple in their second, and six or seven making their debut. Even those debutants have played 20 to 25 international games, especially in Europe, and have enough exposure. I don’t see any weak link,” Baskaran said.

“Overall, I feel the team is in safe hands. The forwards have to convert their chances, the midfield has to keep creating opportunities, the defenders must avoid major errors… the biggest positive it that both our goalkeepers (Mohith H.S. & Suraj Karkera) are in very good form,” he reckoned.

The top two teams from each of the four pools advance to the next stage. Baskaran, who led the country to the top of the podium in the 1980 Moscow Games, said the second round would be crucial.

“The second round will be the real test. Beyond that, it is anybody’s tournament. There has been a long drought (since Ajit Pal Singh’s men triumphed in 1975), but I believe India can do well in this World Cup and progress past the pool stage. Pakistan will be competitive, but India should beat Wales. England will play cautiously and not take unnecessary risks. It should be a good tournament for India,” he added.