Australians are not unbeatable, high time Indian hockey introduces a counter system to beat them

Jagbir Singh is a former India field hockey player who represented India in two Olympics in 1988 (Seoul) and 1992 (Barcelona). He was also part of the bronze medal winning Indian team in the 1986 Asian Games and the silver medal winning team in the 1990 Asian Games.

He is a popular hockey commentator and expert on TV and a hockey columnist. He was a recipient of the Arjuna award in 1990.Indian hockey was at its all-time high at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022 when the Indian men's team entered the finals, while the Indian women had already won a bronze medal defeating the defending champions New Zealand in a penalty shootout and turning the clock this time in their favour.

Viewers watching other sports were all glued back to hockey for the India vs Australia men's hockey final, a match not many would now like to remember, not just because of the scoreline but also the complete surrender by Team India. It's not that the Australians have spared any team in world hockey, but in the last few encounters when playing against India, they have looked so charged up as if they are still trying to avenge an old defeat when they lost to India 12-1 way back in 1935.

Honestly, when India played against England in the group-stage match, despite leading by a convincing margin at half-time, the team conceded easy goals to allow the score board to read 4-4 towards the end. It reflected on the team's easy-going attitude in the tournament, which also continued against South Africa in the semi-final.

Repeatedly allowing solo runs not only to England but South Africans until a shot at goal or conceding a penalty corner highlighted the existing problems and lack of understanding between the players while defending. Not to forget the