Rajinder Singh: How Sardar and Manpreet shaped India's emerging hockey midfielder

If Indian hockey ever wanted to build a prototype of the ideal modern-day midfielder, Sardar Singh would be the obvious choice. During his illustrious playing career, the Indian legend set the benchmark for fitness, versatility and the ability to dictate the game from the middle of the park.

A marauding presence in midfield, Sardar was known for his ability to switch between attack and defence effortlessly. He could break up opposition moves, carry the ball forward and create opportunities for his forwards, often making the difficult look ridiculously easy.

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Since he burst onto the scene, Indian hockey has seen several midfielders attempt to match the standards he set. Manpreet Singh became the connecting link in India's midfield, while Hardik Singh, the heir to Sardar's No. 8 jersey, has been at the heart of the team's recent success.

And now, there is Rajinder Singh, a 24-year-old from the same village as Sardar, who could be the next name to carry that midfield legacy forward.

Rajinder is a shy person when it comes to expressing himself. So much so that when we called him for a chat, it was his teammates who broke into cheers first. They could see that one of their own was finally receiving recognition for the work he puts in on the field.

His breakthrough came at the Asia Cup in Rajgir last year. It was his first international tournament, but there was little about his performances to suggest that he was the new kid on the block.

There was a maturity to his game that went beyond his years. India coach Craig Fulton described him as a 'bundle of energy', someone always ready to showcase his versatility and contribute at both ends of the pitch.

When India needed a replacement for the injured Manpreet during the Asian Champions Trophy, they turned to Rajinder. It was a significant responsibility, but the youngster has responded with energy, discipline and an impressive understanding of his role.

WHAT MAKES RAJINDER STAND OUT

During the league phase of the Asian Champions Trophy, Rajinder was often seen mirroring several aspects of Manpreet's game. The former Indian skipper once described himself as a potato, something that could be used in every dish to make it better. It is perhaps a fitting description of the versatility required in this role.

Fulton has used Manpreet in a variety of positions, deploying him as a defender at times and an attacking midfielder on other occasions. However, his biggest responsibility has often been to act as the conductor of India's midfield. This time, that responsibility was handed to Rajinder.

The 24-year-old has shown an excellent understanding of when to step back and help his defence. The moment he senses danger at the back, he is ready to drop deep and provide cover. But once India regain possession, he quickly switches gears, carrying the ball forward and linking up with the attackers.

His contribution is not restricted to open play either. When it comes to penalty corner defending, Rajinder has brought the same intensity and energy as a first rusher. It was particularly evident against Malaysia and Korea, when he did well to cut down the angles and prevent the opposition's penalty corners from becoming a major threat.

In the final third, he has also shown the intelligence to make himself available without taking opportunities away from his forwards. He understands when to make a run, when to hold his position and when to release the ball.

For now, India do not appear to be missing Manpreet's presence in that role. A large part of Rajinder's confidence comes from learning directly from the former India captain during training sessions.

"Manpreet bhai is a living legend. He is India's most-capped player. So, I don't know whether I can match him or not, but I try to learn from him in every game and every training session. I ask him about many things and how I can improve my game further. Those things are helping me a lot day by day. So, I think I will continue doing that and try to perform as well as I can for the team," said Rajinder.

SARDAR AS ROLE MODEL

There is one particular phase of his life that Rajinder holds close to his heart. It was the time he spent learning from Sardar in their home village of Sirsa, Haryana.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Sardar would return to the village and conduct practice sessions for young players. Rajinder was among those who got the opportunity to train under the Indian legend, picking up valuable lessons along the way.

"I started playing after watching Sardar Singh because he used to come to our village, especially for practice sessions. During the COVID period, when I was free, he used to come and conduct sessions. That time period was very good for me, and I learnt a lot of things from him," said Rajinder.

However, when it comes to his own style of play, Rajinder knows that replicating someone like Sardar is a difficult task. Rather than trying to become a copy of a legend, he wants to build an identity of his own.

"As far as style is concerned, I think becoming like them is quite difficult. I can only try to do whatever I do with perfection. I try to follow everything, right down to the last detail, whether it is our game strategy or whatever plan we have. I try to play according to that," said Rajinder.

HUNGRY FOR GOALS

There is another dimension to Rajinder's game that is yet to be fully unlocked: his eye for goal.

Against Malaysia, the midfielder made several promising runs that troubled the opposition defence. However, a poor final touch or a moment of hesitation prevented him from making the most of those opportunities.

It is an area Fulton wants the youngster to improve. The India coach believes Rajinder can offer much more in the final third, particularly when it comes to scoring goals and creating opportunities for his teammates.

"He's just really focusing on winning more ball in the press. That's where he can make a big improvement, and he's doing a really good job. But also connecting up front and getting outcomes in the D. He can score more goals and provide more assists," said Fulton.

Rajinder is aware of the need to add that attacking edge to his game. In fact, the missed opportunity against Malaysia has only made him more determined to make the next one count.

"I will go back and look at what I could have done better in situations. So that if I get another chance in the upcoming matches, I can definitely score. I really like scoring goals and providing assists," said Rajinder.

India are heading towards a significant transition ahead of the 2028 Olympics, with several established players potentially making way for a new generation. New faces will have to step up, take responsibility and ensure that the team's standards do not drop.

Rajinder appears to be one of those players ready to embrace that challenge.

He still has a long way to go before he can be mentioned in the same breath as Sardar or Manpreet. But the early signs are encouraging. With his work rate, versatility and willingness to learn, Rajinder could well become the new engine of an Indian midfield that is hungry for more success.

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