an analytics blog for public use: Sports Analytics Hockey: The #RourkelaPlaybook Masterclass

As the FIH Pro League returns to the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium this February, the tactical landscape is shifting. Chief Coach Craig Fulton has pivoted toward a high-speed, transition-heavy style that demands absolute synchronization.

Today, I am releasing the #RourkelaPlaybook: 20 simulated tactical sequences designed to dismantle the world's best units. Every play begins with Gurjot at the center spot, highlighting India’s 2026 intent to dictate play from the first whistle.

The End of "Manual Drudgery"

The biggest bottleneck in modern coaching isn't a lack of

ideas—it's the repetitive manual work. Most analysts spend hours redrawing the same press structures or baseline exits on whiteboards or static PDFs.

Our portal changes that. With the Save & Load functionality, coaches can build a complex 11v11 simulation once, save it to the cloud, and reload it in seconds to test variations against different opponents. We are moving from sketching to simulating.

https://huggingface.co/spaces/singhn9/indian-hockey-tactics-sim

https://navalsingh.notion.site/

Part 1: India vs. Belgium – Cracking the Red Lions

Focus: Dismantling the European "Zonal Pinch" and exploiting the 140px Keeper Restraint Zone.

B-01 The Rourkela Reset:

High-speed center restart via Gurjot to catch the Belgian mid-block before they set.

B-02 Zonal Pinch Exit:

Vivek Sagar Prasad finds the seam in the Belgian central trap to release Sukhjeet wide.

B-03 Shadow Angle Play:

Abhishek exploits the GK's restraint zone, forcing Vanasch to commit early.

B-04 Tactical Pinch Break:

A lightning 1-2 between Gurjot and Hardik to collapse the Belgian diamond.

B-05 Baseline 3D Entry:

Abhishek uses 3D aerial skills to bypass the flat-stick tackle on the baseline.

B-06 The Harman Outlet:
A deceptive 40m diagonal that bypasses two lines of the Belgian low-block.

B-07 High-Press Bypass:

Drawing Belgian forwards high before Hardik’s vertical ball finds Sukhjeet.

B-08 Wing-Back Overload:

Amit Rohidas pushes deep to create a 2v1, isolating the Belgian wing-half.

B-09 Counter-Trap Pivot:

Vivek's 360° pivot turns a turnover into a goal for an unmarked Mandeep.

B-10 All-In Final Rush:

A "Power Play" simulation with 5 attackers inside the 23m to overload the circle.

Part 2: India vs. Argentina – Taming Los Leones
Focus: Direct channel blitzes and neutralizing the vertical South American style.

A-11 Patience Build Exit:

Holding possession deep to lure Argentina out of their compact 3/4 recovery line.

A-12 Direct Channel Blitz:

Countering Argentina’s vertical style with a rapid center-to-goal break to Mandeep.

A-13 Flank Stretch Flow:

Using Jarmanpreet’s width to stretch Argentina’s rigid 4-1-3-2 defensive block.

A-14 Defensive Shield:

Vivek Sagar dropping deep into the "D" to cut off the Argentine baseline cross.

A-15 Transition Triangle:

Rapid-fire passing between Hardik and Vivek to exit Argentina’s man-to-man press.

A-16 Striker Drop Play:

Mandeep drops deep to pull a defender out of position, opening the center for Gurjot.

A-17 Recovery Transition:

Exploiting the gap between Argentina's lines after a vertical turnover.

A-18 Circle Chaos Scramble:

High-volume rebound play designed to test keeper Tomas Santiago’s reflexes.

A-19 The Travelling Wave:

A full-team offensive surge bringing 5 Indians into the Argentine circle.

A-20 Angle Out-Play:

Horizontal ball movement forcing the defense to shift until a gap opens for Abhishek.

Technical Summary: The Portal Advantage

These simulations utilize the Simulation Logic 2.0 engine, featuring:

Encirclement Scoring: Real-time feedback on ball-carrier pressure.
Keeper Restraint Logic: Simulating the 140px "shadow" zone to ensure offensive realistic success rates.
Princedeep Integration: These sims feature Princedeep Singh in goal, reflecting the 2026 squad rotation policy.

Try the Simulation Yourself

You can load these JSON playbooks directly into our interactive portal. Move the players, change the angles, and build your own response to the #RourkelaPlaybook.

Portal Link: Indian Hockey Tactics Sim on HuggingFace