How Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers Crafted the HIL Success Story
The HIL journey of Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers hasn’t been without the twists and turns that you would anticipate in such a format, where teams end up playing 10 games (or more if you make it to the semifinal) in a span of four weeks or so. The Bengal franchise got their HIL campaign to their best ‘possible start’, posting three pretty comprehensive ‘regulation time wins’ to sit atop the points tree.
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A strong message was already sent out to the opposition that this team is a red-hot title contender. However, maintaining a clean slate is never a piece of cake in such a league – their winning run came to a halt as they were handed defeats by Kalinga Lancers (a 0-6 thrashing – the biggest victory margin by any side in the league), Tamil Nadu Dragons and Soorma Hockey Club – it appeared as if the Tigers needed to go back to the drawing board if they are to get their HIL journey on track. Another loss to Soorma Hockey Club in the second phase meant that they had to summon desperate measures even as other teams were snapping at their heels for berths in the semifinal.
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The Shrachi Group-owned Bengal franchise got their act and closed out must-needed wins against Kalinga Lancers and Delhi SG Pipers to set up a semifinal date against Tamil Nadu Dragons. Undoubtedly, the Tigers have been well served by Jugraj Singh, who has been in rollicking form with his drag-flicks emerging as the league top goal-scorer with 12 goals. His defending was also of the top notch – Jugraj received solid support in the deep defence from Hayden Beltz, Jasjit Singh Kular, skipper Rupinder Pal Singh, and Gautheir Boccard. Irish goalkeeper James Carr was also a big factor in their success story.
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Ireland’s Tim Cross, Affan Yousuf, Jaskaran Singh, Poovanna, Pardeep Singh, Sean Findlay and Pardeep More did their in the midfield as well as rushing back in defence and hurtling forward whenever needed. The two rising Indian forwards – Abhishek and Sukhjeet Singh (both play for Punjab National Bank) – alongside talented Gursewak Singh, and the New Zealand’s Sam Lane and the Belgium duo of Florent Van Aubel, and Sebastian Dockier ensured the team was firing on all cylinders on a consistent basis.
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At the business end of the league, Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers were left chasing the game against Tamil Nadu Dragons in the semifinal – they trailed twice before they rebounded and stretched the contest into a shootout, where Abhishek did the honours in a pulsating sudden death. The narrow shootout win in the semifinal must have fired up the Tigers, who were determined to settle the final game in regulation time.
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A portion of the final was a replica of the semifinal where the Tigers had to come back into the match after Hyderabad Toofans pulled ahead twice with goals from Gonzallo Peillat and Amandeep Lakra. The onus was on Jugraj Singh to bring them into the contest with a brace from shorties before he capped off a splendid hat-trick to put his side in front for the first time in the title clash. It was left to Sam Lane to deliver the match-clincher in a tie where all seven goals came off penalty corners.
The Colin Batch-coached Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers richly deserved the HIL triumph simply because they had beaten two top sides in Tamil Nadu Dragons and Hyderabad Toofans in the knockout phase – it just showed they were better prepared for the big occasions as they handled the big moments effectively than the others.
