The 29-year-old defender, who missed India’s World Cup opener against Wales, is now cleared to play against England after his hockey stick passed the FIH’s strict safety inspection. Yes, you read that right; his stick was initially rejected for blade dimensions. But Jugraj didn’t just fix his gear; he returned stronger, ready to take on world No. 2 England. Why does this matter? Because Jugraj isn’t just any defender. He’s Harmanpreet’s trusted backup for penalty corners; and has scored 27 of his 39 international goals from them. His 12-goal HIL 2024-25 campaign helped Rarh Bengal Tigers win the title. For a team eyeing a top spot in Pool D, his return could be the difference between a good campaign and a historic one. Sometimes, the biggest impact comes from the quietest comebacks.