Hardik Singh: Hero of India's bronze-winning campaign in Tokyo remains central to their success at Paris 2024 Olympics

It is a testament to the Indian public's ignorance of hockey that Hardik Singh did not become an overnight superstar following the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

In the men's hockey quarter-final of that event, between India and Great Britain, the match was on a knife edge in the final minutes of the contest.

The Indian team was leading 2-1 but had faced a sustained period of high pressure as Team GB pushed hard for an equalizer. The Indians had fallen back in defense into their own half and were somehow keeping their opponents at bay.

The situation was very tense as the GB side kept attacking the Indian circle and a goal seemed around the corner. Then, everything changed thanks to some breathtaking individual brilliance.

Hardik Singh forced a turnover in the Indian half and ran with the ball towards the British team's goalpost. He had two defenders ahead of him and Indian player Nilakanta Sharma beyond them.

Hardik could have taken the easier option and tried to pass the ball between the two defenders and to Nilakanta. However, he trusted his skill, dodged those defenders, and raced into the circle.

He then took a shot at the goal, which was saved by the goalkeeper. But the rebound came back to Hardik, and he finished off the goal with a reverse hit.

This sublime play sealed India's spot in the semi-finals and eventually led to their historic bronze medal.

Speaking about this sequence of play in an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda, Hardik explained his thinking at the time.

"I think I went by my instincts there. There wasn't anything pre-conceived in my mind.... My teammate Nilakanta was ahead of me and he drew those two defenders somewhat away from me. And then, you have to back your skills that you work on in the training. That's what I did there."

Though the hockey team received great applause all round, Hardik did not get the distinct recognition among the general public that he deserved. However, his stock in Indian hockey continued to rise.

Setback in the Hockey World Cup 2023

By the time the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup 2023, hosted by Odisha, came around, Hardik was the heartbeat of the Indian team. He had become the biggest playmaker in the midfield.

In the first two matches of the World Cup, Hardik was in raging form, going on dazzling runs and beating defenders in a most eye-catching manner. Then, disaster struck as he suffered an injury and got ruled out of the rest of the tournament.

"That was a very dark period for me," Hardik said, recalling that injury. "All my hard work went in vain... more than all that, I felt bad because the team lost," he added.

The Indian team looked a shade of itself without Hardik Singh's work in the midfield. They failed to reach even the quarter-finals.

Hardik Singh central to India's chances in the Paris 2024 Olympics

What the 2023 World Cup showed was how crucial Hardik Singh had become for the Indian team. He was the power center of the team's formation and without him, the lights went out on the Indian team's performance.

Now the vice-captain of the team, the 25-year-old will be the most important member of the side at the Paris 2024 Olympics. If India have to retain the bronze medal, or even go further, they need Hardik to be in his prime.

However, his role within the team has changed. Indian team's former coach, Graham Reid, wanted his team to play a high-press. So, Hardik was playing an attacking role as a midfielder.

India's current coach, Craig Fulton, has brought a more defense-centric approach to the Indian team. In this set-up, the India vice-captain now plays as a defensive midfielder, making sure that the team stays safe at the back.

This new role has taken away the flair from Hardik Singh's play. He is no longer going on those stunning runs that slice through the opposition's defenses. However, the results from this shift in tactics have been very positive.

The Indian team is now competing well with the top teams in the world. Credit must also go to Hardik for settling well into his new position and adapting to its needs.

The defensive solidity of India has made them one of the better sides in the world again. They have recovered from the relative nadir they hit during the last World Cup. The midfielder from Punjab appreciates this.

"There has been a change in tactics. We are confident with this structure and with these tactics. The team needed it," Hardik said in the same interview.

He also accepted the need to work with the coach and adapt to his planning.

"Whenever a new coach comes, he brings his ideas of structure and playing style. You have to play according to that style. It may be somewhat difficult at times, but you are an elite athlete at this level. The team always comes first."

At the center of India's midfield, Hardik is still very much the heart of his team. The difference simply is that the heart doesn't beat at a rapid pace for a sprint now, but at a stable tick to ensure composure and durability. But it remains key to India's success.