A young German side proved too good for the Harmanpreet Singh-led India, who failed to convert even one of their seven penalty corner opportunities to go down 0-2 at New Delhi's Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium. Catch the highlights and play-by-play updates of the first India vs Germany match
The first hockey Test will begin at 3pm IST. The match is being live streamed on the FanCode app and website, as well as the Sony Liv app and website in India. It is being live telecast on the DD Sports TV channel and the Sony Sports Network in India.
Though he is back in the squad after a prolonged absence, defender Varun Kumar is not in the Indian starting XI. He is expected to play his part later as a substitute, though. Below is the full Indian starting XI.
A number of frontline India players are missing the series due to injuries. Defender Jugraj Singh is nursing a shoulder injury, Boby Singh Dhami is out owing to an ankle fracture suffered during training and Uttam Singh has been waylaid for more than a month due to a broken foot suffered during the Asian Champions Trophy final. This is in addition to the missing vice-captain Hardik Singh, who is still recovering from the injury he suffered at the Paris Olympics.
In Hardik's absence, Vivek Sagar Prasad will be the deputy to Harmanpreet Singh, just like in Asian Champions Trophy in Moqi, China. Vivek's journey to the top has been a remarkable one. Read more about his mission to take Indian hockey places in our interview with him here.
Most spectators are on their feet as the Indian and German teams make their way out on the hallowed Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium's pitch. The players are being greeted by Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey and secretary-general Bhola Nath Singh. And it is time now for the national anthems.
Germany draw first blood in the fourth minute. Henrik Mertgens takes full toll of a defensive lapse and flicks it past custodian Krishan Pathak for an easy goal. The Delhi crowd is hushed into silence right at the outset. Can India strike a timely rejoinder?
Another attacking wave from the right side of the circle by Germany, who earn a penalty corner via an Indian stick check. But India review, and it turns out to be successful. No harm done this time around and a 16 yard free hit is awarded to India.
It is now India's turn to garner their first penalty corner. Dilpreet Singh is brought down in the German circle and with Harmanpreet Singh not on the field, Amit Rohidas steps up for the drag-flick duty in the second battery. The attempt is unsuccessful, however as Amit is unable to convert on the first chance as well as rebound.
The first quarter ends with India failing to break through the German defence. The hosts were trying to press forward in the dying second but the whistle blew before they could enter the German D.
The second quarter has India pressing forward a bit more purposefully in the early minutes. Circle penetrations happening more organically and frequently and it results in the hosts' second penalty corner. Harmanpreet Singh is ready for the drag-flick this time, but he tries a variation which does not yield a goal as the shot goes wide.
Another PC for India in the 25th minute and skipper Harmanpreet is not on the pitch this time. Amit Rohidas tries to drill Abhishek's injection in, but it is again intercepted by the German defence. Less than a minute later, the hosts garner one more short corner and Harmanpreet Singh is now ready for the drag-flick. His attempt, too, is thwarted by the stout German defence. India still searching for the equaliser.
It's all happening at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium. India generate yet another PC and this time, after Harmanpreet's drag-flick is blocked, Dilpreet sounds the board on rebound. Germany review, and India get a penalty stroke instead. Harmanpreet again steps up, but his push is brilliantly stopped by German goalie Jean-Paul Danneberg, who dives to his left keep the visitors' lead intact.
Well, well, well. Germany double their lead at the stroke of half-time courtesy a PC of their own. Unlike the Indians' profligacy in short corners, the Germans are making their chances count and it is their skipper Lukas Windfeder who does the job this time. India have Suraj Karkera in goal now and the goalie deflects the initial drag-flick but the ball trickles back out for Windfeder to convert.
The second half is underway and India are now attacking towards the far side of the press box. Harmanpreet and Co would not have anticipated a start like this and will no doubt be seeking an early goal in the third quarter to come back into the contest.
Neither the afternoon heat nor a partisan Delhi crowd have hindered the Germans, who have hardly wavered from their defensive and offensive structures. And just as we say this, India earn a penalty corner. Harmanpreet's flick is saved superbly by Joshua Joshua Onyekwue. A second PC results, and again Joshua stands tall as the Indian captain is denied twice.
After a lot of stray attempts and harried defending, India end the third quarter still trailing 0-2. They need to do something dramatic in the remaining 15 minutes, if the hosts are to turn things around from here.
The players are back for Q4 and it is the last chance for India to salvage something from the opener. Let alone a win, even a 2-2 draw will take some doing from here, considering how the match has panned out so far. Let us see if Harmanpreet and Co can shine in adversity.
While the search for the first goal continues, India's defence is enduring a tough time amid relentless pressure from the German forwards and midfielders. Amit Rohidas makes an uncharacteristic error and passes it straight to a German stick in a dangerous position, but thankfully for the hosts, nothing comes off it. Another goal would have spelled curtains for India.
And that's that. The final hooter rings out, and India have not been able to score even once. Germany take an unassailable 1-0 lead in the two-Test series.
Craig Fulton (India coach): We weren't that fluid up front. But we created enough chances and penalty corners, so that was good. If you don't take your chances, it will come back to burn you. Wasn't to be today but we will come back tomorrow, fix it and hopefully get a (better) result tomorrow.
(On whether they will continue to experiment): We need to give players the opportunity, so it was already decided beforehand that who's going to play and that's important for them and their development. If this was a qualifier or something like that, it would have been totally different. We have a big enough squad, and we also need to give new players an opportunity.
The two teams have less than 24 hours before the next match at the same venue. The second and final Test of the bilateral series will be played on Thursday (October 24) at the Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in Delhi, starting 3pm IST. We will bring you live updates from that game too, so stay tuned for that.