Sardar Singh dropped, Manpreet to lead India in CWG 2018

New Delhi [India],March 13 (ANI): After leading the Indian men's hockey team at the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, veteran midfielder Sardar Singh has been dropped from the 18-member squad for the prestigious Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, which is slated to begin on April 4.

Sardar's exclusion seems to have come in the wake of his below-par performance at this year's Azlan Shah tournament. He has been an integral part of the Indian team for a major part of the last decade but has fallen out of favour over the past one year.

The Indian team is grouped in Pool B along with Pakistan, Malaysia, Wales, England and will begin their campaign on April 7 against Pakistan.

Midfielder Manpreet Singh has been named as the captain of the Indian team for the Commonwealth Games, while the responsibilities of vice-captain will be shouldered by Chinglensana Singh Kangujam.

It was under Manpreet's leadership the Indian team lifted the coveted Asia Cup 2017 followed by a Bronze Medal feat at the Odisha Men's Hockey World League Final Bhubaneswar 2017.

Freeman and drag-flick expert Rupinder Pal Singh will form India's wall of defense along with Harmanpreet Singh, Varun Kumar, Kothajit Singh, Gurinder Singh and Amit Rohidas, while the goalpost will be guarded by India's experienced goalkeeper PR Sreejesh who made a strong comeback into the team during the New Zealand Tour where he displayed some exceptional goalkeeping abilities. He will be backed by the 22-year-old talent Suraj Karkera, who played a crucial part in the team's good show in Bhubaneswar last year in his senior counterpart's absence.

India's midfield will see skipper Manpreet Singh in the lead role, ably supported by the experience of Chinglensana, along with young blood in Sumit and Vivek Sagar Prasad. The Indian attack will feature a lethal combination between experience and youth as SV Sunil, Akashdeep Singh, Mandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Gurjant Singh and Dilpreet Singh are all in the team.

Dilpreet Singh and Vivek Sagar Prasad, who made their international debut during the New Zealand tour, have been rewarded with this opportunity for a good show where the duo scored in important games.

"This team has been picked keeping in mind the team's performance in the previous tournaments since the Asia Cup 2017. We have tried out different combinations in the past events and we believe this will be the most effective combination for the Gold Coast 2018 XXI Commonwealth Games," asserted Chief Coach Sjoerd Marijne.

He further stated that the team has a winning mindset and will look to aim for the best in the quadrennial event.

"This team has been improving with every match and while we could not produce a podium finish at the 27th Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2018, it will have no influence on how we are going to play in Australia and we will be going there with a mindset to win," said the 43-year-old Dutch Coach.

In the previous two outings at the Commonwealth Games, India has finished second behind Australia. Skipper Manpreet Singh, however, is confident of turning the tables this time.

"Our first aim is to do well in the group stage because we have some strong teams in our Pool. It's extremely crucial to top our table and make the Semis but if we do meet Australia in the knockouts, I believe we will be up for a strong challenge." said the 25-year-old Manpreet Singh.

The Indian men's hockey squad is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Sreejesh Parattu Raveendran, Suraj Karkera

Defenders: Rupinder Pal Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, Varun Kumar, Kothajit Singh Kadangbam, Gurinder Singh, Amit Rohidas

Midfielders: Manpreet Singh(C), Chinglensana Singh Kangujam (VC), Sumit, Vivek Sagar Prasad

Forwards: Akashdeep Singh, Sunil Sowmarpet Vitalacharya ,Gurjant Singh, Mandeep Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Dilpreet Singh. (ANI)