We are ready for Australia challenge in CWG, says Indian hockey team skipper Manpreet

Commonwealth Games, despite not playing against the current world no. 1 side for over a year. Australia are the most successful men's hockey team in CWG's history, having won all the six gold medals on offer since the game's introduction in the quadrennial event in 1998 Kuala Lumpur. India, on the other hand, finished runners-up twice in the 2010 and 2014 editions.

Read AlsoIndia name full-strength men's squad for CWG, Manpreet Singh returns as captain

India on Monday named a full-strength 18-member senior men's hockey squad for the Commonwealth Games with Manpreet Singh returning as captain and drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh as his deputy.

"Even though we (India and Australia) aren't in the same group, there is every possibility to meet them at later stages of the tournament. We have been continuously studying their strengths and weaknesses," Manpreet said during the kit unveiling ceremony of the CWG-bound Indian contingent here. "We haven't played them for over a year but our main focus will be on not giving Australia chances at the start. No doubt they are a good team, but we will try not to let them come inside the D line and give them an opportunity to score. We also need to capitalise on our opportunities," the 30-year-old midfielder added. India and Australia are placed in different pools in the Birmingham CWG to be held from July 28 to August 8. The Indians are placed in Pool B alongside England, Canada, Wales and Ghana, while Pool A consists of Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan and Scotland. India will open their campaign against Ghana on July 31, followed by matches against England (August 1), Canada (August 3) and Wales (August 4). Asked about their second pool match against the home team,