Lack of consistency is Indian team's problem: Jamie Dwyer

NEW DELHI: Australian ace Jamie Dwyer was forthright in his assessment about the current India hockey team terming Sardar Singh and Co as an "inconsistent" bunch, who will have to depend a lot on ace drag-flicker Rupinder Pal Singh and comeback man Gurbaj Singh.

"Indian team keeps on improving but so does every other team in the world of hockey. They are not far off the best teams in the world but their consistency is still a problem, I feel. We will soon find out how good or bad they are," Dwyer said.

On the duo of Gurbaj and Rupinder Pal, Dwyer, who has a whopping 150 strikes from 250 internationals said,"Gurbaj had a great HIL and so did Rupinder Pal. I expect these two guys will perform well for the Indian team."

Dwyer hit the nail on its head when he stated that India needs to step up on their twin problems --- conversion of penalty corners and being good defensively which includes saving the drag-flicks.

"I think any team that wants to perform well at the World Cup must be good defensively. As far as India is concerned they also need to have a very good penalty corner attack and defence," he said.

India have been clubbed with defending champions Australia, England, Belgium, Spain and Malaysia in Pool A of the World Cup to be played at The Hague from May 31-June 15.

India will square off with Australia on June 9.