Nilakanta retires: India's warrior passes the sword to the next generation

Heading into the Asian Champions Trophy (ACT), there was plenty of speculation surrounding the futures of four Indian hockey players. Mandeep Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas and Nilakanta Sharma were reportedly being forced to retire. That was the word going around.Soon enough, clarifications started coming in, and all four found themselves in the squad for the tournament in Jalandhar and Mohali. Then came matchday, and India stormed to a 13-0 win over Bangladesh on Tuesday, October 27.IND VS BAN HIGHLIGHTS Amid the goal fest, one strike stood out for reasons beyond the scoreline. Nilakanta Sharma had just produced a moment of magic. A reverse hit to cap off a sensational team move. Despite being almost out of the D, the midfielder found just enough space to unleash a shot that flew past the goalkeeper.But while the goal was spectacular, the celebration was anything but. The usually smiling midfielder appeared subdued, lost in his thoughts. Something felt different. And soon, the reason became clear.Nilakanta had decided that it was time to retire from international hockey.His teammates gathered around him, lifted him into the air and celebrated a career that had given Indian hockey so much. But the midfielder was not quite ready to walk away just yet. He decided to continue playing until the tournament came to an end."The decision I took about retirement, I took it after the first match. As a senior player, when you keep playing for the team and keep coming in and out of the team, I feel that it is time to give someone else a chance. I have played in the Olympics, I have a medal, and I kept thinking about all these things the whole night. So, I took the decision myself, but I spoke to my family about it," said Nilakanta.A CLEAR CALLUnlike the uncertainty surrounding his future a few weeks ago, Nilakanta was now clear about what he wanted. In his own words, this was not a decision forced upon him. It was a call he had made himself.His plan was to bring the curtain down after the Asian Games. But the opportunity to play in front of Punjab's passionate hockey crowd made him reconsider the timing. He wanted one last tournament on home soil, and he approached India coach Craig Fulton with a request."It is not that someone forced me or told me to take this decision. Nothing like that happened. This was my decision," said Nilakanta."I took this decision early. I spoke to the coach and asked him to just give me one chance in the ACT in Punjab, so that I could complete my career here," he added.Nilakanta also did not want to wait around for someone else to decide when his time was up. He wanted to leave on his own terms, much like the way he had approached his role in the Indian team over the years.A tireless presence in midfield, the 31-year-old burst onto the scene as a youngster and went on to represent India in 163 matches, scoring 31 goals. Through those appearances, one thing remained constant: his relentless work rate.He ran from one end of the pitch to the other, linked up play, chased down opponents and fought for every tackle. He never shied away from a challenge, and that fighting spirit became a defining part of his game.Perhaps that is why Fulton considers him the warrior of the Indian team."What a warrior. I mean, a great career, a great servant to Hockey India, and he's made his family proud. He's made himself proud, and he's made the nation proud," said Fulton.NURTURING NEW WARRIORSWhile a chapter of his playing career is set to close after the ACT, Nilakanta is not ready to walk away from hockey altogether. There are still ambitions to pursue, and his next innings could see him trade the playing field for the coaching dugout.Retirement, for him, is not the end of the journey. It is a chance to pass on the lessons of a long international career to the next generation."I am prepared. Whenever I go home, I coach the next generation of players there. After Tokyo Olympics, my state offered me a job, and I chose to work in the sports department so that I could coach the next generation and pass on whatever I have learnt here.""I learnt a lot under Coach Graham Reid as well. Whatever I have learnt here, I will utilise it with these players. That is my plan for the future. It is not that my career is over here and I will just sit at home. That is not my plan. I just want to share my experience with them.""In the coming days, I also want to take junior teams forward. In the long term, I have a plan to join the Indian team as a coach, whether it is at the junior, sub-junior or senior level," said Nilakanta.For now, however, there is still a tournament to finish.India have looked formidable in continental competitions, and Nilakanta will hope to sign off with a memorable farewell in Mohali on November 5, potentially in front of a packed crowd.If that moment arrives, expect one last fight from the warrior. One last sprint, one last tackle and perhaps one last moment of magic with the stick in his hand.And when he finally lays down his sword, it will be with the hope that the next generation is ready to pick it up.- Ends