A vastly improved performance was still not enough to get India a win as they lost 4-5 to Holland in their second match of the Champions Trophy in Lahore.
The encouraging part was that this performance came against a side of the calibre of Holland, but the sad part was that for the umpteenth time India lost a match they could have won, or at least should have drawn. In international hockey at this level, a single goal can spell the difference between fighting for a medal and being left out in the cold among also-ran.
Against Holland, one defensive lapse cost us a goal, and then one miss in closing stages meant even the draw eluded India.
Consistency, that one important word in sport, is what is missing right now. Once the team finds that, rest will follow in place. But for that word to happen, there ought to be a plan.