India defeated Pakistan 4-3 in a pulsating FIH Pro League match on Tuesday (June 23, 2026), extending their decade-long unbeaten streak against the arch-rivals in international hockey.
Key Factors
The victory lifted India to seventh in the standings and came in the first meeting between the two sides since the 2024 Asian Champions Trophy in China, where the Harmanpreet Singh-led side had prevailed 2-1. Nilakanta Sharma then gave India the lead converting a penalty corner in the 24th minute as the Harmanpreet Singh-led side went into the breather with a 2-1 lead. India extended their lead in the 40th minute through a field goal from Sukhjeet Singh and then Rajinder Singh made it 4-1 from a penalty corner. With just 14 seconds left on the clock, Pakistan’s Shakeel scored on a penalty corner rebound to make it 4-3, but India held their nerves in the final seconds to secure the hard-fought three points. The Indian men’s hockey team produced a dominant display to thrash arch-rivals Pakistan 7-1 in the reverse fixture of the FIH Pro League’s London leg. After conceding an early goal, India stormed back through strikes from Sukhjeet Singh (20th), Harmanpreet Singh (26th), Hardik Singh (34th), Jugraj Singh (35th), Abhishek (41st), Raj Kumar Pal (44th) and Dilpreet Singh (54th) to register an emphatic victory at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London on Friday (June 26, 2026). After India lost a video referral, Pakistan captain Abu Bakar Mahmood converted the ensuing drag-flick to put his side 1-0 ahead. India registered confidence-boosting victories over the reigning world champions Germany and 2024 Olympics gold medallists Netherlands, while taking the fight against world No. 3 England down to the wire during the European leg of the Pro League. India on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) named a 20-member squad for next month’s FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup, with four players from the side who featured in the European leg of the Pro League missing out owing to the tournament’s squad-size limit. Defender Amandeep Lakra, midfielders Raj Kumar Pal and Rabichandra Singh Moirangthem, and forward Selvam Karthi were the four players omitted from the 24-member Pro League squad. Ace drag-flicker and defender Harmanpreet Singh, who led India to Olympic bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Games, will captain the side.
But Pakistan came back strongly in the final quarter, with Abu Mahmood (53rd) and Moin Shakeel (60th) scoring from penalty corners to reduce the margin but it was not enough. After a slow start in the opening quarter, India found their rhythm to secure their fourth win of the Pro League season. Midfielder Hardik was adjudged the Player of the Match. India can beat any country in the world if the team sticks to its game plan, asserted the national men’s hockey side head coach Craig Fulton after a strong performance in the last leg of its otherwise overall poor campaign in the FIH Pro League. “One of the biggest takeaways from this Pro League run has been watching the team’s confidence grow. “It’s a solid stepping stone heading into the World Cup and Asian Games, but we are still focused on tightening up our performance and staying consistent from quarter to quarter. Fulton was particularly impressed with the team’s composure and hunger to do well. India endured a disappointing FIH Pro League campaign last month, winning four, drawing five and losing seven matches to finish eighth among nine teams, just above Pakistan. The side will now look to improve on their recent World Cup record. Veteran midfielder Manpreet Singh, India’s most-capped player, adds experience to a squad blending established stars with promising youngsters.
Wins over Germany and the Netherlands, plus a strong showing against England, prove that when we stick to our game plan, we’re capable of matching and beating anyone in the world,” Fulton said. India will next take on hosts England in the London leg of the Pro League here on Friday.
