BENGALURU: In the demanding landscape of international hockey, coaching the Indian national team presents a unique set of challenges. With a packed calendar featuring the FIH World Cup immediately followed by the Asian Games, and even amidst controversies like the recent jersey colour change, India’s chief coach, Craig Fulton, remains steadfast. His focus, and that of his team, is squarely on achieving a coveted podium finish at the World Cup – a feat not accomplished in 51 years.

Fulton, in an exclusive interaction, shed light on the team’s preparations, mental fortitude, and strategic shifts as they gear up for these high-stakes tournaments.

Defying Expectations: A Pragmatic Approach to the World Cup

Addressing the monumental pressure of ending a five-decade-long medal drought, Fulton adopted a refreshingly pragmatic stance. “We come into this World Cup not being the favourites. We are ranked seventh in the world and we’ve got a 5% chance of winning, which is fantastic,” he stated. This outlook, he believes, liberates the team. “There is no pressure on us. The only pressure is that we want to bring pride back to the World Cup from an Indian perspective, but also write our own piece of World Cup history from an Indian perspective.”

The strategy is clear: “We start with all our eggs in the basket against Wales. We’re going to go full in for that game and take it one game at a time.”

Mental Conditioning and Team Cohesion: The Switzerland Camp

A crucial element in their preparation was a unique conditioning camp in Switzerland with mental conditioning specialist Paddy Upton. Fulton described it as an “amazing time together which has helped us set up how we want to operate in the next 3-4 weeks.” He emphasized its importance in managing the demanding schedule: “Obviously we have a different challenge because we have two tournaments back-to-back. So it was about addressing how we manage the highs and lows of both and still come out on top.”

Echoing a similar camp held before the Paris Olympics, Fulton explained the dual benefits of stepping out of their usual environment: “One, you realise the privilege of playing for your country and the immense pride that you can bring to your nation. You also have a very supportive govt, with SAI and Hockey India wanting the best for everyone in terms of performance.” He added, “It’s about getting comfortable with the fact that you’ve been chosen for a reason. Also, it was about staying humble and realising that there is a process to be followed and we can’t jump to the final.”

Nurturing Future Talent and Enhancing Team Dynamics

The coach also highlighted the strategic integration of young talent like Yashdeep Siwach and Aditya Lalage. “It is about the balance of youth. It’s not only about results now. (We’re thinking) in terms of the LA Olympics (too),” he explained. This foresight has been a core objective of the India ‘A’ program. “Yashdeep and Aditya have been in the group for quite a while now. They’ve played almost two seasons with the Pro League and have taken their opportunity well. Also, they are fit, strong and bring a different dynamic.”

Spreading the Responsibility: Easing Pressure on Harmanpreet Singh

A significant tactical adjustment has been to alleviate the burden on star dragflicker Harmanpreet Singh. Historically, he accounted for a vast majority of penalty corners. “Harman got to a point where he took 80% of the penalty corners. He had 10 goals in Paris with penalty corners. That’s huge amount of responsibility,” Fulton noted. The inclusion of other dragflick specialists like Rajinder Singh and Sanjay aims to distribute this crucial responsibility. “If we can place 2-3 other players around him, it doesn’t always depend on him. That’s what we’ve been trying to build for the last 18 months since Paris. We’re starting to get some traction there.”

The Evolving Philosophy: From Defence to Press-Counter-Perform

India’s defensive prowess has long been a hallmark, and Fulton confirmed its continued importance, albeit with an evolved strategy. “It continues to do that. It evolves. We’re also very comfortable pressing. It’s another form of defence. We high-press and try to turn over the ball in the opposition half and then counter-attack from there.”

He articulated the team’s refined philosophy: “Our press-counter-perform philosophy has also evolved from the defend-to-win approach.” While acknowledging the similarities, he underscored the necessity of strong defence at the international level. “Even if you’re not scoring, as long as you’re not conceding, you stay in the game. But if you only have the all-out offensive and you’re not scoring and you can’t defend, then you lose games. This has been proven through the Paris Olympics.”

Anticipating Key Encounters: England and Pakistan

Looking ahead to the league games, Fulton expressed confidence in their familiarity with opponents England and Pakistan, both of whom they faced in the Pro League. “We’re quite happy with our pool just because we know the opposition. England are always a threat. We match up nicely against each other,” he stated. The match against Pakistan, he anticipates, will be a high-octane affair. “Anytime we play Pakistan, it is exciting. That team is rebuilding. The match will improve the rivalry. There’s never a dull moment in a game against them.”

With a clear strategy, a focus on mental strength, and a blend of experience and youthful dynamism, Craig Fulton’s Indian hockey team is determined to carve out its own World Cup legacy and perhaps, finally end the long wait for a podium finish.