India vs Australia Hockey: Team India look to rectify mistakes against Kookaburas in fourth Test

Perth, Apr 11: With the series already lost, India aims to address its weaknesses before the Paris Olympics as they face off against formidable Australia in the fourth men's hockey Test on Friday (April 12).

The Indian team began the tour on a challenging note, suffering defeats of 1-5 and 2-4 against the hosts. However, they displayed a commendable defensive performance in the third Test, only to lose 1-2 after holding a goal lead, conceding the series to Australia.

Despite witnessing gradual improvements in India's performance throughout the series, it wasn't sufficient to match the dominance of the Kookaburras. India chief coach Craig Fulton, using this series as a testing ground for his strategies ahead of the Paris Games, acknowledges that much work remains to be done.

The team's inconsistency is evident, with the forward line faltering on some days while the defence struggles on others. Although the defence showed resilience in the third Test against Australia's relentless attacks, the forward line lacked creativity and resorted to long aerial balls, which proved ineffective against top-tier opponents.

Looking ahead, Fulton faces the challenge of maximizing the team's potential against formidable opponents like Australia. Despite their usual vulnerability, the Indian defence deserves credit for withstanding Australia's onslaught, thanks in part to veteran goalkeeper PR Sreejesh's exceptional saves.

However, relying solely on defensive prowess won't suffice, and Fulton must devise new strategies to outmanoeuvre stronger opponents if India is to vie for a podium finish in Paris. The final Test of the series, part of the Perth International Festival of Hockey, is scheduled for Saturday.

Meanwhile, sharing his hopes for the current Indian Men's Hockey Team, former India hockey player Ashok Kumar, on the latest episode of Hockey Te Charcha, a podcast series launched by Hockey India, remarked, "People were hockey fanatics back when I used to play, there was a pride associated with the sport in India. No other country has been able to match the feat of India winning 8 gold medals and we have to protect this legacy at any cost.

"I believe this set of players can do it; they have been controlling games recently and have showcased unity. I'm sure this team has the winning spirit which can place India on the podium, will they stand on the top for the 9th time and restore the past glory is all that is left to see," he added further.

(With PTI inputs)