Retirement discussion? Mandeep, Fulton have other plans and LA 2028 is one of them

As the opening celebrations of the Asian Champions Trophy began, one man seemed content to stay away from the glitz and glamour.

The Indian players showered the crowd and Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann with admiration. Craig Fulton, meanwhile, seemed to be elsewhere, in the dressing room, seemingly lost in thought.

But once the team started preparing for the match, the Indian coach was back in the limelight. 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 it featured Mandeep Singh receiving the Man of the Match award and the team taking the 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 a way, a tool to motivate the players.

“So sometimes I use that as motivation and I show them and it’s kind of exciting to play my first Test matches in Punjab. And then sometimes I pass it on to the players,” Fulton said.

For most of his players, the roar of the crowd and the pride of representing India can be motivation enough. But for several senior members of the staff, Tuesday’s game was about more than a blowout win. It was an opportunity to quiet the noise surrounding their future.

Mandeep Singh, Amit Rohidas and Jarmanpreet Singh have been caught in a cloud of retirement speculation. Reports suggested that the trio along with Nilakanta Sharma might play their final tournament in Indian colours.

Nilakanta has since confirmed that The Asian Champions Trophy will be his last assignment. However, the picture remained unclear for the other three.

Until October 27.

earlier in the day Jarmanpreet has made it clear that he has no plans to leave. Meanwhile, Mandeep and Amit let their performances do the talking.

And they had a lot to say.

PLENTY LEFT IN TANK

Right from the warm-ups, there was a different energy around Mandeep, Amit and Jarmanpreet. Looking sharp and showing that their fitness remained intact, all three showed no sign of distraction as they went about their business.

Fulton backed Mandeep and Jarmanpreet in the starting XI while Amit came on as a substitute. Each of them had their role and each fulfilled in their own way.

Amit is often one of the quieter members of the team, keeping a relatively low profile. On the field, however, he showed exactly why he remains one of India’s most reliable defenders.

Bangladesh may not have been world-class opposition, but they threatened India on several occasions. The visitors managed to catch India’s high line in time, causing chaos at the back.

However, Amit was quick to respond. He stepped in to sweep away the danger and ensure the ball was moved away from India’s D. It was the kind of low-key work that rarely makes headlines but can be vital to a team’s defensive stability.

Jarmanpreet, meanwhile, remains a key part of India’s attacking structure from the defender position.

He never shies away from repeated forays into D, often doubling up as another forward and stretching the opposing defense. However, his attacking instincts do not come at the expense of his defensive duties. When India lose possession, he is quick to come back and help his team regain its form.

And then there was Mandeep.

The Jalandhar forward is the closest thing Indian hockey has to a classic football pickpocket. In his prime, he was never particularly addicted to gimmicks or flashy abilities. His game was built around movement, positioning and goal instinct. Stay inside the D, put opposition defenses under pressure and be ready to knock the ball home when the opportunity presents itself.

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 opportunities that allowed Harmanpreet Singh to convert penalty corners and used his determination inside the D to win chances.

When opportunities of his own arose, Mandeep showed patience and composure to finish them off.

For a brief moment I felt as if the old Mandeep had returned.

And maybe Fulton saw it. His post-match comments suggested the coach had little time for retirement chatter around his senior players. According to him, their selection and performances mattered much more than speculation.

“I’m not going to get into that retirement stuff right now. This was settled a long time ago. Nothing official, so we’re moving on. We’re here. They made a choice, they’re playing well, so let’s go,” Fulton said.

The message was simple: the players were here, performing and focusing on hockey.

FULL STEAM TO LA

However, questions about retirement are unlikely to disappear overnight. For Mandeep in particular, a hat-trick on home turf always brought fresh 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 reaction to the retirement talk was typically flippant, but the message behind it was clear.

“Retirement? I don’t know about that either bro. Like who said I’m going to retire. People are saying that but I don’t know who brought it,” said Mandeep.

If his performance against Bangladesh was a reminder of what he still brings to the team, his explanation of the hat-trick offered a glimpse into the thinking behind it.

Mandeep quickly shifted focus away from individual milestones towards the combinations that make the Indian attack tick.

“Look, when we play, it’s about the combination we have inside the circle. It’s not about one player scoring goals. Even if I score three goals, they’re team goals. If someone creates opportunities, I think that shows how good our combination is,” Mandeep said.

“That was our structure at the Asian Games and the World Cup as well. Who scores, it’s always about the team. I’m proud of the connection we have between our players, especially our forwards.”

Leading an attacking unit that includes younger players like Abhishek, Dilpreet Singh and Shilanand Lakra means keeping up with their energy and intensity. It takes more than just experience and instinct for the senior forward. It requires fitness, consistency and the ability to serve at the highest level.

Mandeep seems to understand this better than most.

When we saw him at Rajgir during the 2025 Asia Cup, he already looked in great form. He looked leaner, sharper and full of energy on Tuesday, putting in a performance that suggested he still has a lot to offer.

For Mandeep, the secret is no mystery.

“Fitness comes first. Fitness is definitely at the top of our priorities. In the Olympics, you have to maintain your body and your physical structure properly. That is what we are focusing on as we look at the Los Angeles Olympics,” Mandeep said.

It was perhaps his clearest response yet to speculation about his future. Rather than living in retirement, Mandeep is focused on staying fit, performing consistently and maintaining his place in India’s plans for the Los Angeles Olympics.

He made that ambition clear before signing off.

“Absolutely no chat about retirement now. We didn’t even know about the news, who posted it or who didn’t. But I’m focused on the LA Olympics. That’s the goal for me now,” Mandeep said.

Los Angeles is still a long way off and Indian hockey has taught us over the years that plans can change quickly. Fitness, form and selection will have a say in what happens next.

But for now, talk of retirement can be put on hold.

Fulton supports his older players. Jarmanpreet made his intentions clear. Amit continues the hard yards at the back. And Mandeep responded to the noise with a hat-trick and a reminder that his ambitions go beyond one tournament.

The shots Fulton took 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.

– The end