India’s Men’s Hockey Team Returns to World Cup After 51-Year Drought
After more than five decades since their last title, the Indian men’s hockey team is set to compete in the FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup, taking place in the Netherlands and Belgium. Under the guidance of head coach Craig Fulton, who previously led the team to an Olympic bronze at the Paris Games, India aims to break their long-standing podium absence.
Tournament Details
The World Cup features 16 teams and runs simultaneously with the Women’s World Cup. Matches are scheduled at the Belfius Hockey Arena in Wavre, Belgium, and Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, Netherlands. India secured their place in the tournament by winning the 2025 Asia Cup held in Rajgir.
Group Stage Opponents
India has been drawn into Pool D alongside Wales, England, and Pakistan. Each team will play one match against the others, with the top two advancing to the second round. Other pools comprise the Netherlands, Argentina, New Zealand, and Japan in Pool A; Belgium, Germany, France, and Malaysia in Pool B; and Australia, Spain, Ireland, and South Africa in Pool C.
India’s Match Schedule
- Aug 15: India vs Wales, 4:30 PM IST at Wagener Hockey Stadium
- Aug 17: India vs England, 6:30 PM IST at Wagener Hockey Stadium
- Aug 19: India vs Pakistan, 6:30 PM IST at Wagener Hockey Stadium
Broadcast Information
The matches will be broadcast live in India on Star Sports and through the JioHotstar platform.
Tournament Format
This edition features a different format compared to previous tournaments, as there will be no crossover matches or quarterfinals. The top two teams from each group will advance to the second round, grouped into two pools of four. Points from matchups against fellow group members will carry over into this round. The top two teams from these pools will progress to the semifinals, while the bottom teams will play classification matches.
India’s Squad
The team retains a familiar core of players, with no significant surprises in the selection. Harmanpreet Singh will captain the squad for the second consecutive World Cup. Other notable players include Mandeep Singh and Manpreet Singh, each set for their fourth World Cup. Newcomers to the team include Mohith HS, Suraj Karkera, Yashdeep Siwach, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Rajinder Singh, Jugraj Singh, Sanjay, and Shilanand Lakra.
Here’s the squad breakdown:
- Goalkeepers: Mohith HS, Suraj Karkera
- Defenders: Jarmanpreet Singh, Harmanpreet Singh (c), Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, Sanjay, Sumit, Yashdeep Siwach
- Midfielders: Rajinder Singh, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh, Nilakanta Sharma, Vivek Sagar Prasad
- Forwards: Dilpreet Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Sukhjeet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Abhishek
Recent Form and Challenges
Ranked eighth in the world, India enters the World Cup following a challenging Pro League season where they finished second-last. Despite failing to win any of their first eight matches, they showed improvement in the latter half of the season, securing victories over teams like the Netherlands, Germany, Pakistan, and England.
While India’s attacking gameplay has improved, concerns linger regarding their defensive capabilities. The retirement of legendary goalkeeper PR Sreejesh and the inconsistent form of Krishan Pathak have raised issues within the goalkeeping department. Coach Fulton has emphasized the need for better defensive organization and a return to their core principles to enhance their outcomes in the upcoming matches.
Historical Context
Historically, India has been a formidable force in hockey, securing podium finishes three times between 1971 and 1975. However, it has been 51 years since they last clinched the World Cup title, and they have not achieved a top-four finish since then. Their recent World Cup campaigns saw them hosted in Odisha, where they faced elimination in 2018 during the quarterfinals and encountered a disappointing exit against New Zealand four years later in a penalty shootout.
Special Credits: Image Courtesy of Espn
