Hope. That's the central theme of the 2023 Men's Hockey World Cup. There's little else than hope that a 48-year wait entails. The narrative is the same. The expectations are similar. The times, though, are a lot different. In 1975, when India won its only World Cup, the team was world-beater. In 2023, after barren World Cup appearances spread across almost five decades, hope is the only familiar aspect.