Indian striker Shivender Singh tells espnstar.com that he was frustrated to see his team lose as he served out a ban.

By Rajarshi Gupta

The nation had broken into an uproar when India's number 18, Shivendra Singh, had been handed out a two match ban (initially a three-match suspension) after the FIH decided he was overtly aggressive in India's victory against Pakistan.

Former players and India coach Jose Brasa were furious with the world body's decision while a few went to the extent of suggesting mischief in the high corridors of power.

The man in the centre of the storm was getting edgy as he saw his team lose once chance after another: "I was desperate to come back and play. Serving out the ban was frustrating, especially when I knew I had done nothing wrong.

The body gets used to working in a particular way and when you have to sit out for two matches, it upsets the entire rhythm. I think my team missed me in the most crucial stages of the tournament."

Shivendra was candid enough to add that India might well have been sitting in the last four after Monday night had he played out all of the hosts' matches in the World Cup.

"When a main player is forced to sit out, it affects the entire balance of the team, the plans and the strategy."

However, the man who scored India's opening and closing goals of the league stages in the ongoing World Cup seemed content that the side was getting a chance to improve their 12th rank in the world.

"We finished fourth in the Pool and hopefully we can win our next engagement (Final 7-8) and end up seventh. That will be a big boost for us.

"The coach (Brasa) has been working very hard with us and everybody in the team has executed his plans well. We are moving forward and by the Commonwealth Games should be a major force."

Monday night was just as dramatic for Shivendra, who was undoubtedly the darling of the crowd, as he charged around the field, setting up the second goal for his team before netting one in himself. A rough tackle from an enthusiastic South African player notwithstanding, the striker looked fine.

Shivendra is a torchbearer and at a time when Indian hockey needs to seek out daylight at the end of the tunnel, no one else could have assumed a more vital role.