Abhishek Mishra
At the Hockey Asia Cup 2025 in Rajgir, Bihar, team India were crowned champions after thrashing South Korea 4-1 in the final and secured a spot in the 2026 World Cup in Belgium and finishing the tournament unbeaten.
With the Craig Fulton and Harmanpreet Singh combination, Indian hockey team has seen greater heights proving the continental dominance and winning a bronze at the Olympics 2024. But the Indian hockey team performance in the 2025 season has had a mixed bag of results, performing in patches. The season started well, with India winning 5 out of 8 matches in the home leg of the FIH Pro League. However, the team fell flat in the European leg, playing in Belgium and Germany, and returned with just 1 win out of 8 matches. A month later, they traveled to Australia for a four match test series and again managed to win only 1 out of 4 games.
The win at the Asia Cup gave fans relief but questions still remain about India’s strategy against fast paced European hockey and Australians , especially away from home. With the Asian Games and World Cup on the line, team India now has a year of time to prepare for the biggest stage.
Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey ,speaking to media on the sidelines at the Asia Cup 2025 also acknowledged that team changes are needed for major events like the Asian Games and World Cup. He will monitor the Junior World Cup in Chennai later this year, adding that senior players’ futures will be reviewed with selectors as the Asian Games lead to the LA Olympics.
“From here, we will start preparing for the Junior World Cup. That will be our immediate target. After that, the Hockey India League is on the calendar. At the same time, we are also focused on the Asian Games and the World Cup, which are equally important milestones,” said Dilip Tirkey.
“The senior players are also being monitored and the focus is on juniors too. After the Junior World Cup we will regroup and the core group for the Asian Games and World Cup will be finalized,” he explained.
On emphasizing so much on the Asian Games he said, “ The Asian Games are very important because they are directly linked to Olympic qualification. Our performance at the Asian Games will impact not just the team but the whole of India. Whether we play in the FIH Pro League or the Asian Games, consistent performance matters.”
Team India has done multiple lapses in defense and as well as in the forward line as the conversion rate after penetrating the opposition circle have been not satisfactory during the Pro League in Europe. The Hockey India president also acknowledged the same and is looking towards the juniors with a long term vision to balance the team for current and future competitions.
“We’re looking to make some changes in the squad, especially the forward line and defence. We already have good junior players in the system and they need international exposure at the senior level. If we don’t give them opportunities now, it could create problems when we look ahead to the 2028 LA Olympics. Players need enough experience to be ready at the right time,” said the former Indian team captain.
“If senior players cannot keep pace, juniors will step in their places. That’s why Hockey India has instructed the selectors to work closely with the coach and ensure the team is balanced for both current competitions and the future,” he added.
Dr. Dilip Tirkey has shown full faith in skipper Harmanpreet Siny, coach Craig Fulton. Talking about them he said , “Harmanpreet is our captain right now and he has been performing well. The Leadership is stable at the moment and I trust coach Fulton. If we see their performance, within a few months after taking over he won us an Asian Games gold and then Asian Champions Trophies and an Olympics bronze medal in Paris.
We are backing them for the 2026 Asian Games and World Cup.
One of the crucial stops before the World Cup and Asian Games 2026 will be the Hockey India League (HIL) where both our junior and senior players will be tested. However, the league is currently facing multiple issues with some teams withdrawing. Since the World Cup qualifiers are scheduled around the same time there is a high possibility of many European players pulling out.
“One team has pulled out of the league but new teams are being enlisted. A mini auction is expected around 23-24th September. Some players are being released and fresh players will be up for bidding,” the Hockey India president confirmed.
When being asked about the availability of European players he said, “ Some European players’ availability is uncertain because of scheduling conflicts with the World Cup qualifiers and other tournaments but we are working to ensure maximum participation and trying to bring the Asian players this time as well. HIL is very important for hockey’s development and the players’ future.”
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