India’s men’s hockey team is set to tour Australia for a four-match series in Perth from August 15 to 21. This series is a vital part of India’s preparations for the upcoming Hero Asia Cup 2025 to be held in Rajgir, Bihar, from August 29 to September 7, which offers a direct qualification spot for the FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup 2026.
Ranked 8th in the world, India will face world No. 6 Australia on August 15, 16, 19, and 21 at the Perth Hockey Stadium. Given the current form of the Indian team, the upcoming series is expected to be a tough challenge.
Recent Performance and Head-to-Head
The two teams recently locked horns in the FIH Pro League 2024-25 in Belgium, where Australia defeated India with a scoreline of 3-2 in both matches.
India finished the FIH Pro League 2024-25 campaign in 8th position with 18 points from 16 matches, securing 6 wins and suffering 10 losses. While India’s home leg in Bhubaneswar saw a strong start with five wins, the European leg proved disastrous for India, marked by a seven-match losing streak.
The overall head-to-head record since 2013 heavily leans in Australia’s favour. Out of 51 matches played between the two nations, Australia has won 35 times, while India have nine wins, with seven encounters ending in draws.
In the last 10 head-to-head encounters between the Indian hockey team and Australia, the Kookaburras hold a dominant 8-2 lead.
India’s most recent memorable victory against Australia came at the Paris 2024 Olympics, where the Indian team delivered a historic performance, defeating Australia 3-2. It was India’s first Olympic win over Australia since the 1972 Munich Games. They will now look to replicate a similar performance in the upcoming series.
Craig Fulton: A Crucial Test for Asia Cup Aspirations
Indian Men’s Hockey Team Chief Coach Craig Fulton emphasised the importance of this tour.
“This tour comes at a crucial time for us, just ahead of the Hero Asia Cup in Bihar,” Fulton stated. “While these are technically friendly matches, they form a very important part of our preparation phase. Playing against a team like Australia will test us in all aspects – both on the ball and off it – and that is exactly what we need to sharpen up before a major tournament.
“We have just completed a 10-day training block, and the mood in the camp is upbeat as we are fully focused on what lies ahead. One of our key goals on this tour is to use the first two matches for selection purposes, while the remaining games will be played with the shortlisted squad for the Asia Cup. Our focus is firmly on moving forward – the goal now is to prepare well and go to the Asia Cup with the intent to win it.”
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