The support Im getting here gives me a lot of confidence, saysAmandeep

Amandeep Lakra wasted little time justifying Hyderabad Toofans’ faith in him. Entrusted as the team’s first-choice drag-flicker and tasked with leading the penalty-corner battery in Gonzalo Peillat’s absence, the 23-year-old delivered under pressure on the opening night of the second season of the Hockey India League on Saturday.

Trailing 2-0 against Tamil Nadu Dragons, Amandeep struck twice from penalty corners to haul Toofans back into the contest and force a shootout after a 3-3 stalemate in regulation time. Toofans eventually went down 4-2 in the shootout, but the shift in momentum bore his stamp.

“I’m feeling really good. The support I’m getting (from the team) – whether I make mistakes or not – gives me a lot of confidence. Playing on such a big platform and getting that support isn’t easy,” Amandeep said after the match.

Peillat, sidelined by an ACL injury and regarded as one of the finest drag-flickers of all time, had scored eight penalty-corner goals during Toofans’ runner-up campaign last season. But Amandeep, who scored all five of his goals from penalty corners last season, had already been identified as the successor.

“Whatever training the coach (Pasha Gademan) has given me, and with the trust he has shown in me, I don’t want to break that trust. I just want to stick strictly to our plan,” said Amandeep.

Even in Peillat’s absence, Amandeep is guided by his advice. “He always says that if we are converting a PC, we should mostly keep it inside (the frame). If we keep it inside, we have a lot of chances for a rebound, and many players are ready for the rebound.”