If you fear mistakes, you stop growing, says Indian men’s hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh

There is a calmness to Harmanpreet Singh when he speaks. Not the kind that comes from a lack of pressure, but the kind that develops after living with it for years. Ahead of a packed sporting calendar featuring the Asian Games and the Commonwealth Games, the Indian men’s hockey team captain sat down with Bangalore Times for a conversation about leadership, mental strength, fatherhood, social media, team bonding and why he believes Indian hockey is finally receiving the recognition it deserves.

'I struggled mentally too, but learnt to trust myself again'
Recently, Indian cricketer Virat Kohli opened up about dealing with imposter syndrome and the mental burden that comes with performing consistently at the highest level. Harmanpreet says he has gone through a similar phase in his own career. Reflecting on a difficult World Cup campaign, he admits that self-doubt crept in when his performances failed to meet expectations. “I realised I was overthinking and experimenting too much instead of backing the game that had always worked for me. That affected my confidence. I went back to basics, focused on the things that made me successful and slowly rebuilt trust in myself,” he says. For Harmanpreet, mental resilience is just as important as physical preparation. “In sport, criticism and difficult phases are inevitable. But your belief in yourself should never break,” he says, adding, “If you are afraid to take risks or make mistakes, you stop growing as a player.”

‘If you don’t feel pressure, you are probably too relaxed’
For someone leading one of India’s most successful sporting teams in recent years, pressure is not something Harmanpreet wants to avoid. In fact, he believes it is necessary. “I think pressure is very important. If you don’t feel pressure, you may be taking things too lightly. Big tournaments are never easy. We know expectations are high whenever India plays,” he says. There is also a larger goal in sight. While the team is taking one tournament at a time, Harmanpreet says consistently building confidence is key for bigger dreams ahead. “We want to finish every tournament strongly and keep building confidence as a team. Consistency matters a lot in sport,” he adds. At the same time, he believes visibility for athletes has improved over the years. “Earlier, hockey did not get this much support because we were not consistently winning medals. Today, people recognise hockey players more because the results are coming,” he says.

‘The calmness of a captain impacts the whole team’
Captaining India comes with emotional responsibility, and Harmanpreet has learnt that calmness can often become a team’s biggest strength. “When you stay calm, things automatically become better. The moment you overreact or get angry, things can go in a negative direction,” he says. For him, communication remains one of the most important leadership tools. “If I am not calm, I won’t be able to communicate properly with my players. I always try to speak respectfully, treat everyone positively and create a comfortable environment,” he adds.

‘Bonding off the field matters just as much’
Off the field, spending time with teammates outside hockey is equally important to him. “We go for dinners together, spend time together and joke around. That bonding is very important because every year, new players join the team. You have to make them comfortable and make them feel involved,” he says. Interestingly, he believes the chemistry built during these relaxed moments reflects directly during matches. “If players understand each other better off the field, that coordination automatically shows on the field too,” he shares.

‘Winning medals in front of my family is very special’
The hockey captain lights up most while speaking about his family. A proud girl dad, Harmanpreet says fatherhood has changed him emotionally and taught him patience. “Of course, becoming a father changes you a lot. Seeing my daughters and wife there when we won medals… that feeling is very special. For my children to witness those moments at such a young age, to see their father winning for the country, means a lot to me,” he says with a smile. “Whether I’m working out at home or going to the gym, I try to involve them somehow. I want them to stay active and mentally strong,” he adds.

‘Social media can inspire youngsters too’
Recently, some badminton players spoke about how influencers often receive quicker recognition than sportspersons representing India globally. Harmanpreet, however, takes a balanced view. “For me, anybody who represents India positively deserves appreciation. If influencers are doing good work and people are following them, there’s nothing wrong with that,” he says. According to him, social media is a mixed bag — it all depends on how it is used. “If young players see something online and feel inspired to play a sport, that’s a positive thing. But using social media correctly is important,” he says. He also points out how differently today’s generation is growing up. “When we were young, we got phones much later. Today, kids want phones first. So I think parents also have a big responsibility in deciding when children should be introduced to these things," he says.