IND Vs AUS Hockey Test Series: Men In Blue Aim To End 10-Year Drought On Australian Soil

New Delhi: Having won the last Test series against Australia on their own soil back in 2014, the Indian men’s hockey team would be aiming to end a decade-long drought in the upcoming five-match series that starts on April 6 in Perth. With Australia also been drawn in the same Group B as India in the Paris Olympics, the Test series serves a perfect opportunity for the Harmanpreet Singh-led side ahead of the mega extravaganza. The Indian team flew for Australia on Monday from the Capital.

Bronze medalists at the Tokyo Olympics, the pressure will obviously be on India to better the medal colour. In the ongoing year, India have played eight home matches, winning five. Against Australia, India put up a brave fight before going down in both the games. While the hosts lost 4-6 in the first, the Men in Blue put up a great fight to draw the game 2-2 in regulation time before losing 0-3 in the shootout.

“The preparations have been good. We had some good matches in the FIH Pro League at home last month and also a good three-week camp in Bhubaneswar. The weather was hot and humid and we have put in a lot of hard work. We are flying to Australia for a Test series,” forward Akashdeep Singh told India.com on the sidelines of Hockey India Awards on Sunday.

“The last time we had beaten Australia in a Test series was in 2014 and our aim this time is to come home victorious. Also, since Australia are in our group at the Paris Olympics, it will help us,” added the 29-year-old. In the last 27 years, India have played Australia only five teams in a hockey Test series.

India Working On Decision Making Inside The Circle

Interestingly, the upcoming Test series is the second time after 2014 that both teams will engage in a five-match affair. Speaking about the improvements India would like to implement in the upcoming tour Down Under, Akashdeep pointed the decision making skills inside the circle is what the whole bunch is working up at this moment. Following the 2014 tour, Australia came to India the next year for a Test series. After that, it have been India who flew to Australia every time.

“Be it in Olympics or the World Cup, you can’t take any team lightly. Preparation for Olympics is a whole different thing because your movement with ball or without ball inside the ground is very important,” he said before adding, “We are working on decision making inside the circle also on how we can minimize conceding a penalty.”

While the results may not have been on India’s side in their recent FIH Pro League matches against Australia at home, their display against the mighty heavyweights have been impressive. Defender Amit Rohidas echoed Akashdeep and stated the focus is not too far at the moment but Australia series.

“The preparation has been good. We have a busy schedule in the coming months. After the Test series against Australia, we have FIH Pro League in Europe and then the Paris Olympics. Obviously, our focus has been on the coming matches against Australia,” said the Sunndergarh-born lad.

“If you see in the last 10 years, we have beaten Australia in their own den quite a few times. The way we have played against them recently in the FIH Pro League, we are trying to play in that same way and hopefully we will be able to put up a good show,” he concluded.