New Delhi: Upbeat on the upcoming Hero Hockey India League 2015, ace defender and drag-flicker VR Raghunath is ready to dish out a sturdy performance and put up his best show in the League which will start on 22 January 2015.

Being among the top drag-flickers of the world, the Karnataka player led the team of Uttar Pradesh Wizards twice and took the team to the semi finals of the previous two editions. The Indian defender will continue his stint with the Lucknow-based franchise and plans to materialise maximum scoring opportunities through penalty corners.

The 26-year-old drag-flick specialist was the third in the list of the top goal scorers of both the previous two editions. Proving his worth and becoming a motivation to the defence line of Uttar Pradesh Wizards in the first season of the HHIL, Raghunath scored a total number of nine goals where all the goals came from penalty corner conversions. Trailing the achievement of the first season, he scored eight goals again from penalty corners in the subsequent edition. Raghunath, who clinched the Man-of-the-Match award twice in HHIL 2013 and once in HHIL 2014, is yet again looking at delivering a commendable performance.

Promising no longer to remain missing in action, Raghunath is all buckled up to post an exciting game of hockey this season aiding the team to top the points table. As UP Wizards won their maximum matches through penalty corners, their team strategy will remain the same, earning the maximum penalty corners during the matches and convert them into goals.

Speaking ahead of the Hero Hockey India League 2015, VR Raghunath said, “The League this time is going to be tough as the best players of the world will be featured in the League. The strength of our team will be the drag- flicking skills. I am excited to share the field with our Harbir Singh, the Netherlands’ Marcel Balkestein and Jolie Wouter, who are surely a boost to our defence line-up. I look forward to the third season and aiming to improve our position by finishing on a winning note this time.”

The 3rd edition of the Hero Hockey India League will start from the 22 January 2015 and Uttar Pradesh Wizards will play their first match on 23 January against defending champions Delhi Waveriders in Lucknow. The opening day of the League will witness Kalinga Lancers taking on Ranchi Rays in Bhubaneswar.