As the celebrations marking the start of the Asian Champions Trophy got underway, one man seemed content to stay away from the glitz and glamour.The Indian players soaked in the adulation of the crowd and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Craig Fulton, meanwhile, appeared to be elsewhere, inside the dressing room and seemingly lost in his thoughts.But once the team began warming up for the match, the Indian coach was back in the thick of things.
And he had his phone out, clicking pictures of his players as they prepared for the challenge ahead.Hours later, after India thrashed Bangladesh 13-0, Fulton was at it again. This time, he was capturing Mandeep Singh receiving the Player of the Match award and the team taking its lap of honour.
Was this a new habit for the Indian coach?Not quite. Speaking to India Today after the match, Fulton revealed that there was a method behind the photographs.
They were, in his own way, a tool to motivate his players."So, at times I use it for motivation and I show them, and it's kind of exciting in a way to play your first Test matches in Punjab. And then I hand them to the players at times," said Fulton.For most of his players, the roar of the crowd and the pride of representing India might be motivation enough.
But for a few senior members of the squad, Tuesday's match was about something more than a thumping win. It was an opportunity to silence the noise surrounding their futures.Mandeep Singh, Amit Rohidas and Jarmanpreet Singh had been caught in a cloud of retirement speculation.
Reports suggested that the trio, alongside Nilakanta Sharma, could be playing their final tournament in Indian colours.Nilakanta has since confirmed that the Asian Champions Trophy would be his final assignment. For the other three, however, the picture remained unclear.Until October 27.Earlier in the day, Jarmanpreet made it clear that he had no plans to step away.
Mandeep and Amit, meanwhile, let their performances do the talking.And they had plenty to say.PLENTY LEFT IN THE TANKRight from the warm-ups, there was a different energy around Mandeep, Amit and Jarmanpreet. There was little sign of distraction as the three went about their business, looking sharp and showing that their fitness remained intact.Fulton backed Mandeep and Jarmanpreet in the starting XI, while Amit came on as a rolling substitute.
Each had a role to play, and each delivered in his own way.Amit is often one of the quieter members of the squad, keeping a relatively low profile. On the field, however, he showed exactly why he remains one of India's most dependable defenders.Bangladesh may not have been world-class opposition, but they did threaten India on a couple of occasions.
The visitors managed to catch India's high line off guard early on, creating moments of chaos at the back.Amit, though, was quick to respond. He stepped in to sweep up the danger and ensure that the ball was moved away from India's D.
It was the sort of unglamorous work that rarely grabs the headlines but can make all the difference to a team's defensive stability.Jarmanpreet, meanwhile, continues to be a key component of India's attacking structure from the wing-back position.He is never one to shy away from making repeated runs into the D, often doubling up as an extra attacker and stretching the opposition defence. But his attacking instincts do not come at the expense of his defensive responsibilities.
When India lose possession, he is quick to track back and help his team regain its shape.And then there was Mandeep.The Jalandhar striker is the closest thing Indian hockey has to a classic football poacher. In his prime, he was never particularly reliant on trickery or flashy skills.
His game was built around movement, positioning and an instinct for goal. Stay inside the D, put the opposition defence under pressure and be ready to tap the ball home when the opportunity arrives.Against Bangladesh, Mandeep did all that and more.He played a role in India's opening three goals, scoring twice himself.
He also helped create the opportunities that allowed Harmanpreet Singh to convert from penalty corners, using his determination inside the D to win the chances.When his own opportunities arrived, Mandeep showed the patience and composure to finish them off.For a brief moment, it felt as though the vintage Mandeep was back.And perhaps Fulton had seen it coming. His post-match comments suggested that the coach had little time for the retirement chatter surrounding his senior players.
As far as he was concerned, their selection and performances mattered far more than the speculation."I'm not going to get into this retirement stuff now. This has been dealt with long ago.
Nothing official, so we move on. We're here.
They've selected, they're playing well, so let's go," said Fulton.The message was simple: the players were here, they were performing, and the focus was on hockey.FULL STEAM AHEAD TO LAThe retirement questions, however, are unlikely to disappear overnight. For Mandeep, especially, a hat-trick on home turf was always going to bring renewed attention to his future.So, we put the question to the man himself.For all his years in the Indian team, Mandeep remains one of its liveliest characters, rarely without a smile and always ready with a joke.
His response to the retirement talk was typically light-hearted, but the message behind it was clear."Retirement? I don't know about it also brother.
Like, who said I was going to retire. People are saying it, but I don't know who brought it up," said Mandeep.If his performance against Bangladesh was a reminder of what he still brings to the team, his explanation for the hat-trick offered a glimpse into the thinking behind it.Mandeep was quick to shift the focus away from individual milestones and towards the combinations that make India's attack tick."Look, when we play, it's about the combination we have inside the circle.
It's not about just one player scoring goals. Even if I score three goals, they are team goals.
If someone is creating the opportunities, I think that shows how good our combination is," said Mandeep."That's been our structure at the Asian Games and the World Cup as well. Whoever scores, it's always about the team.
I feel proud of the connection we have between our players, especially among our strikers."Leading an attacking unit that includes younger players such as Abhishek, Dilpreet Singh and Shilanand Lakra means keeping pace with their energy and intensity. For a senior striker, that demands more than experience and instinct.
It requires fitness, consistency and the ability to keep delivering at the highest level.Mandeep appears to understand that better than most.When we saw him in Rajgir during the 2025 Asia Cup, he was already looking in excellent shape. On Tuesday, he appeared leaner, sharper and full of energy, producing the sort of performance that suggested he still had plenty to offer.For Mandeep, the secret is no mystery."Fitness comes first.
Fitness is at the top of our priorities, without a doubt. For the Olympics, you have to maintain your body and physical structure properly.
That's our focus as we look towards the Los Angeles Olympics," said Mandeep.It was perhaps his clearest response yet to the speculation about his future. Rather than dwelling on retirement, Mandeep is focused on staying fit, performing consistently and keeping his place in India's plans for the Los Angeles Olympics.He made that ambition clear before signing off."Absolutely no retirement chat now.
We didn't even know about this news; who put it out or who didn't. But my focus is on the LA Olympics.
That's the goal for me now," said Mandeep.Los Angeles is still some distance away, and Indian hockey has taught us over the years that plans can change quickly. Fitness, form and selection will all have a say in what happens next.But for now, the retirement talk can take a back seat.Fulton is backing his senior players.
Jarmanpreet has made his intentions clear. Amit continues to do the hard yards at the back.
And Mandeep has responded to the noise with a hat-trick and a reminder that his ambitions extend well beyond one tournament.The pictures Fulton took on Tuesday were meant to motivate his players. But after India's 13-0 demolition of Bangladesh, they also captured something else: a group of senior players who are not ready to fade quietly into the background.- Ends