Gagan goes from star to seat in the stands

Perhaps the Pakistanis were only rubbing salt into Gagan’s deep wound — one player who has excelled against them every time he stepped on the turf (18 goals in 19 matches). Or maybe it was a case of some friendly ribbing during the ‘dosti’ series.

Whatever it was, the ace Indian striker has been reduced to a mere spectator, literally.

This would have been the chance of a lifetime. Playing against Pakistan in India, in the Punjabi heartland, (and maybe captaining the side in the absence of Dilip Tirkey) in front of a cheering home crowd…it doesn’t get any better.

Unfortunately, for Gagan, it can’t get any worse: he’ll be watching the action from one corner of the stadium.

Even a superlative performance in the All India Gurmit Memorial Hockey Tournament held at the same venue last week — Gagan helped Punjab Police retain the title — could not impress the IHF selectors when they met to pick the team for last four matches against Pakistan.

‘‘I love to play against Pakistan and am badly missing all the action. I would just say that I am ready to serve the nation whenever given an opportunity to do so,’’ Gagan told The Indian Express.

Perhaps Mr Gill is listening because only IHF can dare to drop a youngster who has scored 107 goals in 156 international matches and scored 18 goals in the 19 matches he has played so far against Pakistan.