There is a reason most teams are wary of placing their bets on the Indian hockey team.

For almost three quarters in the final against Japan on Thursday, the host was like a headless chicken, running all across the field, dominating possession, passing the ball around and repeatedly entering the opposition circle, only to mess up. By the time the hooter went at full time, India had won 4-1, defended its Asian Champions Trophy title and the spectators who packed the Olympian Balbir Singh international stadium in the middle of a weekday got their money’s worth.

The crowd had to wait till the 42nd minute to find its voice after Japan took lead in the third minute through Kazumasa Matsumoto, then dished out a defensive masterclass and a lesson in how important getting the basics and discipline were in international hockey. It was also the scrappiest performance by India in the tournament, clearly under pressure, erratic and messy.

Japan was expected to stay defensive and wait for counters and control but it flipped the playbook, going on the attack from the beginning and playing positively. Left unmarked just outside the circle and India still only warming up, Matsumoto got the ball, took three steps inside the circle and unleashed a stunner through the smallest of gaps between the near post and Suraj Karkera’s gloves in the top corner.

Stunned, the Indians went all out, only to repeatedly run into a stubborn wall of Japanese defence and goalkeepers Kisho Kuroda and Takumi Kitagawa.

So disciplined were the Japanese defenders that India got its first penalty corner only in the 33rd minute despite constantly crowding their circle with half of dozen players.

The match was played predominantly in Japan’s half and India had 22 entries with 12 shots at goal to seven and two for its rival. It didn’t matter.

The Indian forwards spurned chances like millionaires, being out of position and failing to trap properly. Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad and Nilakanta Sharma did everything they could, relentlessly and tirelessly effecting turnovers, snatching possession and gliding through defenders, only for the forwards to miss sitters till the 42nd minute.

A third PC saw India try a variation, there was desperation to keep the ball in play and Shilanand Lakra whacked it in to level.

Suddenly, Japan looked deflated, its citadel breached, and the fluid movement that India is known for was in full flow, adding three more.

Earlier, Malaysia beat Korea 5-2 to take the bronze medal.

The results: Final: India 4 (Shilanad Lakra 42-pc, Dilpreet Singh 48, Jugraj Singh 52-pc, Vivek Sagar Prasad 54) bt Japan 1 (Kazumasa Matsumoto 3).

Third-place playoff: Malaysia 5 (Fitri Saari 2, Faisal Saari 34, Abu Kamal Azrai 45, 50, Marhan Jalil 58-pc) bt Korea 2 (Park Geunwoo 5, Chun Semin 13).