Hockey
Hockey Pro League — India vs Argentina: Preview, LIVE streaming, when and where to watch, what to expect
As the Indian men's hockey team leaves for Argentina to play their fixture at Hockey Pro League, we look at India's chances against the Olympic champion.
India to take on Argentina at FIH Hockey Pro League (Source: Hockey India)
A 22-member Indian hockey team departs for Argentina today to play their Hockey Pro League matches against the world no. 5 sides. The Indian team, who are ranked one place above the hosts, would be playing in their second international tour in a span of a year. Despite a prolonged gap owing to the force majeure of COVID-19, the Indian team retains their good form that it had been riding on since 2019.
India resumed international hockey last month with a tour of Germany and Belgium, playing two matches each against the Germans and Britain and returning undefeated with two wins and two draws. This time they will be playing a total of six matches against Argentina. The Indian team will play two warm-up matches against the home team on April 6 and 7 ahead of their Pro League clash followed by two more practice matches on April 13 and 14 as part of their preparations for the Tokyo Olympics.
The Men in Blue will be riding high on the spirit with the return of Captain Manpreet Singh in the squad. Manpreet had opted out of the recent Europe tour due to personal reasons, while his compatriot goalkeeper PR Sreejesh took the mantle of the team. Besides, experienced drag-flick specialist Rupinder Pal Singh as well as Varun Kumar, who were undergoing rehabilitation are also back in the mix for India.
What to expect from Team India when they play Argentina in Hockey Pro League?
The team will be confident to its brim as they continue their journey in Hockey Pro League against Argentina. When the Pro Hockey went underway in January 2020, India showed a stupendous display on their home soil. So far India played the top three teams in the world — Netherlands, Belgium, and Australia and where they remained undefeated (comprising the two legs of matches). Coach Graham Reid's boys will eye to replicate a similar performance against Argentina, which would be a bit difficult in the away land. However, the two practice matches before the Pro-League draws will help the Indian team acclimatize with the conditions.
The Argentina tour will also mark the beginning of the 10 matches in the tournament over the next couple of months leading up to the Tokyo Olympics. More than the results, the matches will be impactful for India as her warm-up for the Olympics, where they have a probable chance of bagging a medal if they are able to retain the form. One year of lockdown could be an equation changer for every single team in their run-up to the Olympics. It is these matches, that will count for India where they will have to rip benefits.
When will India vs Argentina Hockey Pro League matches be played?
The two Pro-League matches will be played on
Sunday, 11 April 2021 and Monday, 12 April 2021. Both the matches will be played at 1:30 AM IST.
The practice matches will be played on
6 April 2021: 8:30 PM IST
7 April 2021: 8:30 PM IST
13 April 2021: 7:30 PM IST
14 April 2021: 7:30 PM IST
Where India vs Argentina Hockey Pro League matches will be played?
All the India vs Argentina Hockey Pro League matches will be played in at Cenard in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina.
LIVE Streaming/Where to watch India vs Argentina Hockey Pro League matches?
So far, nothing has been updated by Hockey India about the broadcast partner of the matches. LIVE streaming detail will soon be updated,
Who will be playing for the Indian team?
1. P R Sreejesh
2. Krishan Bahadur Pathak
3. Amit Rohidas
4. Gurinder Singh
5. Harmanpreet Singh (Vice-Captain)
6. Surender Kumar
7. Rupinderpal Singh
8. Varun Kumar
9. Birendra Lakra
10. Jaskaran Singh
11. Hardik Singh
12. Manpreet Singh (Captain)
13. Vivek Sagar Prasad
14. Raj Kumar Pal
15. Sumit
16. Nilakanta Sharma
17. Shamsher Singh
18. Gurjant Singh
19. Dilpreet Singh
20. Mandeep Singh
21. Lalit Kumar Upadhyay
22. Shilanand Lakra
