Kolkata : Hockey India announced 22 members squad led by Harmanpreet Singh for upcoming 2 match Bilateral Series against Germany.
The 2 Match Bilateral Series against World Champion Germany will be played at Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium, New Delhi, on October 23 & 24.
The Indian side, confident after winning Asian Champions Trophy, will be led by Olympic Medal winning skipper Harmanpreet Singh. Vivek Sagar Prasad is named the Vice captain. However, dynamic midfielder Hardik Singh will miss the series as he’s in rehabilitation process for an injury sustained during Paris Olympics 2024.
The bilateral series will witness Rajinder Singh and Aditya Arjun Lagate make their international debut.
Named in the squad are Krishan Bahadur Pathak and Suraj Karkera who will guard India’s goalpost while Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Harmanpreet Singh, Varun Kumar, Sanjay forming the defence line. The team also includes Sumit, Manpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Vishnu Kant Singh, Nilakanta Sharma, Shamsher Singh, Mohd Raheen Mouseen and Rajinder Singh.
Mandeep Singh, who was rested for the Asian Champions Trophy, returns to the forward line. He will be joined by Sukhjeet Singh, Abhishek, Adity Arjun Lalage, Dilpreet Singh and Shilanand Lakra.
Coach Craig Fulton said regarding team selection, “We are very excited to take on Germany in the national capital next week. India and Germany have shared a strong rivalry in recent years and we are upbeat about playing in New Delhi. The team we have picked is an experienced one, with several players from the Bronze medal-winning Paris Olympics squad. We will also have Rajinder and Aditya make their international debut during this series, they have shown a lot of promise during the training camp and we share their excitement as they prepare to earn their first jersey with the Indian team”.
INDIAN SQUAD :
Goalkeepers : Krishan Bahadur Pathak, Suraj Karkera
Defenders : Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Harmanpreet Singh (C), Varun Kumar, Sanjay, Sumit
Midfielders : Manpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad (VC), Vishnu Kant Singh, Nilakanta Sharma, Shamsher Singh, Mohd. Raheel Mouseen, Rajinder Singh
Forwards : Mandeep Singh, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Dilpreet Singh, Shilananda Lakra.
