Delhi Waveriders will seek to regain some lost ground in its second consecutive away match against Ranchi Rays in the Hockey India League at the Astroturf Stadium here on Saturday.
Waveriders had a disappointing start to the league as it lost 1-0 to Kalinga Lancers in Bhubaneswar last Sunday. The 2014 champion, which had adopted an attacking approach and dominated for most part of the match, had suffered against Lancers due to its below par finishing.
Waveriders had not only wasted many chances to score field goals but also frittered away several penalty corners against Lancers, which defended its post desperately.
Against Ranchi, Waveriders’ forwards, including Simon Child, Justin Reid-Ross, Talwinder Singh and Mandeep Singh, would like to enhance their accuracy in the opposition circle. The penalty corner specialists, led by captain Rupinderpal Singh, would be keen to employ more variations.
After recording its first win, a big 7-2 margin against Lancers, following a draw and a loss, Ranchi, placed second with eight points, will be full of confidence to play its second home match in front of its vociferous supporters.
Ranchi, flaunting some top class foreigners in Englishman Ashley Jackson and German Christopher Ruhr and talented Indians such as Gurbaj Singh, Mohammad Amir Khan and Manpreet Singh, had troubled Lancers with its possession play on Thursday.
The host is likely to adopt a similar strategy to gain upper hand against Waveriders, which is slotted fifth among six teams.
The team will have to maintain its composure to hand the formidable Ranchi a defeat at home.
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