It was disappointment for promising striker Nikkin Thimmaiah whose shoulder injury forced him out of India squad for the Test series against Australia and the Hockey World League (HWL) Final in Raipur later this month.
The 26-member preliminary squad practicing in a camp at SAI Centre in Bengaluru was on Wednesday pruned to 18, with midfielder Danish Mujtaba making a return to the Sardar Singh-led squad for the last major tournament before the Rio Olympics next year.
The tournament will be held in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, from Nov 27 to December 6. It will be preceded by a three-Test series between India and Australia from November 19 to 23.
Other than the Nikkin setback, there were no major surprises in an otherwise settled squad, since midfielder Gurbaj Singh was sidelined due to a disciplinary ban that was later quashed by the High Court. However, due to the ban, he was not part of the preparatory camp in Bengaluru.
The squad will have star goalkeeper PR Sreejesh as Sardar's deputy. Harjot Singh has been retained as the back-up goalkeeper.
Experienced Mujtaba, who was not present in the 21-member squad that travelled to New Zealand, will further strengthen India's midfield that also comprises Chinglensana Singh, Devinder Walmiki, Manpreet Singh and Dharamvir Singh.
In front of Sreejesh in the goal will be the tried and tested defensive line of VR Raghunath and Rupinder Pal Singh, with Birender Lakra, Kothajit Singh and Jasjit Singh Kular as the other options.
Missing in the striking line will be Satbir Singh, who was overlooked by the Hockey India selection committee that nodded in favour of SV Sunil, Ramandeep Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Lalit Upadhyay and Talwinder Singh.
"The team has been together in the camp for quite a while and they are showing tremendous progress. The Test series with Australia will help us evaluate our strengths and weaknesses before going into the Hockey World League Finals," said Roelant Oltmans, India's High Performance Director and Chief Coach.
"We are excited and there is high degree of positivity within the boys and that gives all of us a lot of confidence. We are confident of playing some competitive hockey and hope to produce the best result in the league," he added.
Hockey India President, Narinder Batra, expressed confidence in the team flexing its muscles before the Rio Games.
"The Hockey World League final is going to be our first test en route the Rio Olympics next year. It will give us a good perspective as we would be testing our best players against the world's best, with all the teams in the Hockey World League Finals having secured 2016 Olympic qualification," Batra said.
India play their opening match of the HWL Finals on Nov 27 against Argentina and have the European giants Germany and Netherlands as the other two teams in Pool B. Australia, Belgium, Canada and Great Britain make up Pool A.
India squad:
Goalkeepers: PR Sreejesh (vc), Harjot Singh
Defenders: Birendra Lakra, Kothajit SIngh, VR Raghunath, Jasjit Singh Kular, Rupinder Pal Singh
Midfielders: Sardar Singh (Captain), Chinglensana Singh Kangujam, Devinder Walmiki, Manpreet Singh, Dharamvir Singh, Danish Mujtaba
Forwards: SV Sunil, Ramandeep Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Lalit Upadhyay, Talwinder Singh.
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