Kolkata: Even as the Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams prepare for the upcoming World Cup and Asian Games, a group of players outside the current national set-up have signed up to play in Australia’s Hockey One league, scheduled to be held in October and November.So far, four Indian players have officially announced their participation, all set to represent the Melbourne Cobras franchise. The women’s contingent includes Kanika Siwach and Udita, while Gurjant Singh and Mohammed Raheel Mouseen will feature in the men’s team. The club has also roped in former Indian stars Rupinder Pal Singh and Rani Rampal as ambassadors.The Cobras have actively promoted the Indian community in Australia and have built a team that combines Indian and Australian talent.Speaking about her decision, Kanika, daughter of former India captain and coach Pritam Siwach, said she wanted to defiantly move away from the familiarity of home.“I wanted to get out of my comfort zone. Back home, I was with the same players for five or six years. Here, I didn’t know anyone. I had to adapt to a new culture, new teammates and a completely different environment. I wanted to prove myself, and that’s why I came.”Kanika, who played in the junior World Cup last year and scored five goals, has already spent over a month in Australia and is currently playing in the Women’s Premier League for Mentone Hockey Club.Reflecting on the experience so far, he said: “Australian hockey is very different from Indian hockey. It is much more physical and fast. They also put a huge emphasis on teamwork. In India, we focus a lot on the development of individual skills, while here everything is more structured and team-oriented.”Udita, who has represented India in 138 internationals and last played for the national team in the Women’s World Cup Qualifiers in Hyderabad earlier this year, is equally excited about the opportunity.“Our Hockey India League is relatively short, lasting from 20 to 25 days, while the Australian league lasts for almost two months. This means that we will be immersed in hockey for much longer and get to observe their training habits, routines and general approach.”Former Indian pacer Rupinder Pal Singh believes the stint will be invaluable for the Indian players, given the limited opportunities they have to feature in overseas leagues.“Indian players don’t often get a chance to play in international leagues, so this is a valuable opportunity,” said the former India player. “It allows our players to experience Australian hockey culture first hand, observe how they prepare, and learn from their training methods.”This exposure, Rupinder believes, could be invaluable as the Indian players return home with fresh ideas, different perspectives and a better understanding of one of the strongest hockey systems in the world.