Pathak and Karkera: Advancing the Legacy of PR Sreejesh

The Paris Olympics signaled a pivotal moment for the Indian hockey team’s goalkeeping unit. Following the inspirational PR Sreejesh’s retirement after winning bronze—his second consecutive Olympic medal—Krishan Bahadur Pathak assumed the role of primary goalkeeper. Meanwhile, after seven years of waiting, Suraj Karkera has finally earned his spot as India’s No.2 goalkeeper.

Both Pathak and Karkera, who are contemporaries, honed their goalkeeping skills under the guidance of Sreejesh. Now, they are eager to carve out their own successes and gain recognition.

Since his 2018 debut, Pathak has shared many achievements with Sreejesh, excluding the most coveted—the Olympics. Due to the 16-player limit for Olympic hockey squads, compared to 18 for other tournaments, only one goalkeeper could attend both the Tokyo 2021 and Paris 2024 Games. Pathak was a standby at both events, witnessing his teammates earn medals.

In his role as a senior player, Sreejesh often directed his teammates, particularly the defenders. Now, at 28, Pathak from Punjab applies what he learned from the former India captain.

“Now, I must find answers independently. It’s my responsibility to guide the team. If I notice an opponent’s unique tactic, I must communicate this to my team, especially to the penalty corner defense. It’s substantial for me to take on this role,” Pathak, who has played 153 games for India, shared during the ongoing Asia Cup.

“Mental strength is crucial. As a goalkeeper, it’s important to quickly learn from and correct your mistakes. For instance, after conceding a goal, it’s important to move forward without dwelling on it. This mindset has enhanced my performance as a keeper.”

Karkera, who debuted in 2017 before Pathak, was often overlooked for the second goalkeeper spot regardless of the coach. From 2017 to 2023, the 29-year-old played only 41 out of his 72 international matches. He became a regular, participating in 31 matches within the last year, after Sreejesh’s retirement. Now, as the team’s No.2 keeper, he is eager to make up for lost time.

“The team trains together as a core group, enabling continuous learning throughout. Being out of the playing roster doesn’t halt learning because the training camps replicate match intensity,” Mumbai-based Karkera told HT.

“There’s healthy competition with Pathak. We keep improving each match. His agility and quickness are attributes I want to incorporate into my game. For quicker reflexes, we undergo rigorous gym training. This has developed into muscle memory through numerous repetitions in camp.”

India’s goalkeeping coach, Dennis van de Pol, believes that both are adapting well despite their new roles.

“They’ve been collaborating for a long while. Although they play more matches now, there hasn’t been much change in dynamics. They work well together and are excelling in their new roles with increased pressure, emerging as defense leaders,” stated the Dutchman.

The upcoming Asian Games in Japan and the World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium will present their major tests next year.