India Aim to Upstage Australia After Drawn First Match
India held Australia to a 2-2 draw in the first match of the three-match series and they will be determined for an improved showing in the second match in Raipur.
Having let world hockey champions Australia escape with a draw in the first of the three-match Test series, India will try not to repeat the mistakes and come out all guns blazing in the second match at the newly inaugurated Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel International Stadium in Raipur on Sunday. (VR Raghunath's Brace Helps India Draw Against Australia)
India led 2-1 via V.R. Raghunath's two successful penalty corner conversions but the hosts' shaky defence conceded a penalty corner in the 58th minute that was converted by Chris Ciriello for a 2-all result in Rajnandgaon.
Coming to the second match, India chief coach Roelant Oltmans said they have addressed the shortcomings.
"It was a good game, but the last minute encroachment by the opponents into our area only exposed the areas we still need to take control of," Oltmans said in a release.
"We have addressed the concern areas and our hopeful of a better show tomorrow."
This will be the first ever international match hosted in Raipur, and a lot of crowd support is expected as was seen in the last match at Rajnandgaon.
"The crowd support has been tremendous, and with such terrific support, we are charged to give in our best and not disappoint our fans," Oltmans, who is also the Indian hockey's high performance director, said.