Former Aussie great says ace drag-flicker's consistency is reason behind India's good showing
India's ace drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh put on a show to remember throughout the 2021-22 Pro League season, where he scored as many as 18 goals in 16 matches as India finished third in the league standings.
Of the 18 goals, 14 came from penalty corners, which included two hat-tricks - one against South Africa and another one against England. In the process he also scored his 100th career goal and will be the cynosure of all eyes as India look to earn their first gold at the Commonwealth Games.
Speaking of what makes him so good at penalty corners, former Australian drag-flicking legend Chris Ciriello said, "What makes him good is his consistency - to pick the ball up and put it into the goal. He has the ability to flick at every angle which is very good.
"He just needs to stay balanced and put his powers through the flick."
Ciriello, who worked with the Indian team for about two years, believes Harmanpreet to be one of the best in the world at the moment and credits him as one of the key reasons for India's rise in the world of hockey.
"I worked with him mainly on how to move and shift the ball and then also his speed, power and output. He is a world-class drag-flicker and he is up there with the likes of Alexander Hendrickx (Belgium drag-flicker).
"He is a threat and that's why India are doing so well in the world. PCs win you international tournaments and championships. So, that's a very unique skill, it's very important," said Ciriello, who is currently working as head of Asian engagement for Hockey Western Australia, during a virtual interaction with the media on Wednesday.
Keeping his drag-flicks aside, Harmanpreet's overall performance has also been improving and the best thing about him is his ice cool composure. Even with seconds left on the clock and India trailing, the team knows winning one PC will be enough to turn things around.
While Harmanpreet's impressive showing has made everyone take notice of him, India head coach Graham Reid has been doing his best to keep him grounded.
"I always try to keep him grounded and I think he understands that. One of the things that can bring you down in the game is over confidence. There's an old adage that there's a fine line between arrogance and confidence and Harman tends to tread that line very nicely. He just needs to play well for the team and stay focused," said Reid.
