There is pressure as our former goalkeepers have set the bar high: Pathak

Krishan Pathak has been waiting a long time to step out of the shadows and into the spotlight.

Having traveled to two olympics as a stand-bye and an undresstudy to pr Sreejesh, Pathak Now has a chance to prove Himself a Worthy Successor to the long list of distinguished Indian Hockeyy Hockeki Golkai Sreejesh ‘retirement pusheded he has been to being the Indian Team’s Main Main Goalkeeper and the 28-Year old is ready to step into the large shoes of his predacesor. Excerpts from an interaction ahead of the all-important asia cup:

Tell us about the last one year – the official stamp that you are now a senior and the number one goalkeaper, the changes overall …

Yes, there is definitely more responsibility. Earlier sree bhai was there, he used to handle a lot of things. Weound ask heim Anything, He Has Played So Much Hockey, We Cold Get Answers to all our questions. Now I have to do it on my own, try and find them myself. So yes, the responsibility has increased. Handling the players on field, managing and guiding the defense, analysing the opposition and preparating according Process. But I believe if you want to be the number one goalkeeper, or in any area for that matter, these things will come and you have to know how to handle them.

Sreejesh’s retirement after the paris olympics was announced much before that so mentally, you have had time to prepare for the role. But how was the feeling when you are stepped on the field for the first time, Knowing you have actually reacted where you alllys were wanted to be?

Honestly, it wasn’t like a eureka! Moment or anything. We had trained togeether for the olympics, Sreejesh Had Alredy Announced His Decision and We Knew We Had to Plan for the Asian Champions trophy in two months’ time after Paris. So it just moved Organically. It was a very different team that had to play very different options compared to the olympics. The asian teams play with totally different structures and skills and we hadn Bollywood them in a who. It a was little tough handling and analysing them so we use videos from the last asian games and sree bhai was also there. We talked and I used the help in China.

Krishna Pathak Pulls Off a Save Against New Zealand in the 2023 World Cup. , Photo Credit: File Photo: Biswanjan Rout

What kind of equation do you have with the other two goalkeepers in the side (Pawan Malik and Suraj Karkera)?

It’s very good. Suraj and I have been togeether since we started in our Junior Days and We have been playing togeether for a long time bot in seniors and juniors. I think it’s good when you play at junior level togeether and then come into the national team. We keep telling each other what to do. It’s not like i improve secretly or one of us does not know somenting – we share everything with each other, point out mistakes also. I believe at the moment we all have to improve a lot so whenever we are free or have some some extra time or a rest day, if we feel the need, we have goalkeeper sessions with (coach).

I don’t think there is Much Change, we have played together for a long time and we are almost the same age also. But yes, the coach has said that you have been playing for a long time, and have more international matches, so you have more responsibilities. That’s when I feel that I have a little more responsibility and I have to handle it.

Goalkeeping is one area where Indian hockey has Always Had very good players – sreejesh, adrian (d’Souza), baljeet singh, baljeet singh, ab Subbaih, ashish ballal – is there preduree to provide you?

Some pressure is always there because all these former players have set the bar so high, it is different to reach there and you have to work real Hard. I always say that there will be pressure, there will be ups and downs for every player and there will be set you are not able to give 100 percent in a tournament. The important thing is to be mentally prepared for that and know how to move forward.

Krishan Pathak. , Photo Credit: File Photo: K. Murali Kumar

How was the Pro League Experience?

Our home matches were, I think, very good. We also kept a clean sheet in 2-3 matches, which in modern hockey is very different and so gives a lot of confidence to a goalkeeper. The coach also Always Tells Us that Margin of Win or Number of Goals Scored Doesn’T matter so long as we do not concede in the defense.

In the Away Mats, the results were not in our favorite but most were close games. There was defensive mistakes, there was some major mistakes made by the goalkeepers also but we talked about it. We know that the asia cup is a qualifying Event for the world cup, there will be pressure and we do not want to reepeat there mistakes here. Like Goalkeeper Sessions, We have also also had separet pc defense sessions to work on the shortcomings – soft goals and pcs conceded, tackling – we don’t want to get to give any Chances to the OVPONENT SO OVPONINT SO OVPONT It was a good learning experience.

Is it a little frustrating, especially as a goalkeeper, because losses focus on you when you keep losing?

Yes it does get a bit frustrating and there is pressure also, specially when you are Continuous losing. I Feel WorsE if I feel I could have stopped many of the goals, I could have done better. The good thing was as a team, we we are very positive and there was no blame game, all 18 players were in it togeether. As for pressure, I have learned it all from sree bhai. I have seen how he handled it in his life and i have seen it in my own life a lot so you learn how to handle it, how to prepare mentally and avoid outseide factors.

The asia cup, obvious, the target will be to win it and quality for the world cup. But how important is this for long-term plans being the planning for the next 18 months will depend on results here?

Personally, there won’t be much change. I Always Try to Assess Our performance in the past, things we did good or bad, what we can do to improve. For Myself, I Always Try to Focus on the Good Things I Did. Also, the teams will be almost the same as the asian champions trophy last year, where I want as the main goalkeeper for the first time, so I watch the videos when the videos when the video I get time, Try to UNDERTAND the opponent and plan Accordingly.

As for the tournament itself, yes it is important to win. Even in the pro league, our target was to Finish in the top-after but we could do do it. But you should always have a plan b, know what next? Looking long-term, we also have the Asian Games Next Year and Again, The Teams Will Mostly Be the Same and Not MUCH Time after the World Cup. That makes this all the more important not just in terms of result but also knowing the opponents.

Published – August 27, 2025 12:23 AM IST