‘India are playing at only 80 per cent’: Former India defender V Raghunath

Korean players attempt a goal against India during their Asian Champions Trophy match at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai on Monday. Pic/PTI

Team India's journey so far at the Asian Champions Trophy has not been exceptional. Besides two big wins over China (7-2) and Malaysia (5-0), they played out a 1-1 draw against Japan before getting past Korea 3-2. The forward line has been wasteful, the defence doubtful and the penalty corner conversions unimpressive.

However, former India defender and drag flicker V Raghunath, who is also a member of the Hockey India national selection committee, believes it's all part of a plan, where the Asian powerhouse [World No. 4 India are the highest ranked Asian team] are not playing to their full potential deliberately.

All eyes on Asian Games

"India are just playing to around 80 per cent of their full capacity. And this is understandable because no player would want to take any unnecessary risks with the all-important Asian Games being a little over a month away [Sept 23 to Oct 8 in Hangzhou, China]. Had this tournament been around five to six months ago, every player would have gone all out.

V Raghunath at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium. Pic/Ashwin Ferro

"But now, if an injury occurs, there is no time to recuperate. And no player wants to miss the Asian Games," Raghunath told mid-day at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium here.

As per Raghunath, 34, the Indian team management has also rested some key players.

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"I would not like to take names, but a few players have been rested because we have a core of 24 and we need to try them all out before the team for the Asian Games is selected," said the brilliant drag flicker, who retired from the game in 2017, but not before scoring a whopping 132 goals in 228 internationals. India chief coach Craig Fulton will be keeping some of his cards very close to his chest.

Maximise the potential

"No coach would want to show off too much of their game here because they know they will be closely watched. These very teams will be meeting again in China soon. I'm sure, not just India, but coaches of the other teams too are using this tournament to try out a few new things. There will be a few things or players hidden by all," said Raghunath, not before insisting though that it does not mean India would want the gold medal to slip away here. "I think India should win the gold medal at this tournament. They are playing well," he signed off.