The Premier Hockey League kicks off on Thursday with a match between favourites Sher-e-Jalandhar and Hyderabad Sultans. But more than the actual game, it will be the innovations and novelties with the format that has captured the imagination.The glitz, the glamour, and celeb power. It will all be there, adding to the national sport’s latest avatar, a format organisers hope will manage to bring back the audience it has lost over the past couple of decades.With cheerleaders, fan squads, 17-minute quarters and miked time-outs, the PHL has been envisaged as the de facto national championships for the next few years. But for the time being, it is a complex project, with both the coaches and the players confused about the rules and the admitting that they would need some time to get used to the format.Despite all that though, the ambience at the Gachibowli Complex here was the sort that has been missing in Indian hockey in recent times. Laughter and evident camaraderie was all over. If Dhanraj Pillay — in all seriousness — advised Gagan Ajit Singh to improve his basics with some ‘‘hitting vitting’’, Gagan was equally sombre in his reply: ‘‘Haan bhaisaab, abhi woh hi kar ke aa raha hoon.’’Practicing under lights for the first time today, the Jalandhar team was upbeat about Thursday. ‘‘We are confident,’’ Gagan, captain of the team, said. With a forwardline reading ‘Gagan Ajit Singh, Prabhjot Singh, Deepak Thakur, Baljit Singh Dhillon, Mohammad Sarwar (of Pakistan)’, Jalandhar can dream big.As the coach of one of the competing sides said on condition of anonymity: ‘‘I wish I had a forwardline like that. What I couldn’t do with Gagan, Deepak, Prabhjot, Arjun (Halappa) and Tushar (Khandekar)? Dhanraj is still good enough to play in bursts. Only the federation seems incapable of realising their worth.’’While on the IHF topic, another example of their unprofessional ways came to the fore today when we received news that the two French players of the Hyderabad Sultans team will not be arriving. ‘‘The IHF is trying to get two Indian players now, probably from the Tier II teams,’’ a source said.While organisers ESPN and LSM appear to be going the whole hog trying to make the showcase event a success — with the latest production equipment in place on time — the IHF appears to have stuck true to tradition. As the two teams run on to the pitch tomorrow, we’ll have to wait and find out if the IHF will find other ways of messing things up when the organisers have done their best to clear all hurdles.How they stack upSher-e-JalandharComprising mainly of players from the Punjab region, the team strength lies in its aggressive approach to the game. Has five of the regulars from the Indian attack at the Olympics, and will try to cash in on their never-say-die spirit and sheer raw force.Chennai VeeransStrongest in midfield. Has players to create the chances upfront and fall back as well. Will try to utilise their versatility to make up for the absence of physical power.Hyderabad SultansHas professionals rather than stars. Several of the players are vastly experienced, and keen to prove their worth all over again. A highly skilled lot. Of course, Sohail Abbas is the exception.Maratha WarriorsThe team with least internationals, despite having Dhanraj Pillay. Will hope to make full advantage of their underexposure and emerge the dark horses.Bangalore Hi-FliersMainly a young team with flair, flamboyance, and attitude. Will be looking to add performance to the above three.
