The Indian men's and women's hockey teams are facing a challenging period, marked by a string of losses in recent matches, particularly in the FIH Pro League. Both teams are actively seeking to turn their fortunes around and secure positive results in their upcoming games.

Indian Men's Hockey Team

The Indian men's hockey team has been struggling to find consistency and secure victories. The team has suffered a concerning performance dip, marked by consecutive losses in the FIH Pro League after a promising Olympic run. Scorelines of six consecutive losses suggest a tough fight by the Indians, but it also reflects a worrying trend which is conceding last-minute goals, an offshoot of defensive lapses under pressure. In the European leg of the FIH Pro League, the team faced defeats against strong opponents, including the Netherlands and Argentina. More recently, they suffered a 3-2 loss to Australia, a match in which they initially held a 2-0 lead. This defeat marked their fifth consecutive loss in the tournament, adding to previous losses against the Netherlands and Argentina. Another setback came with a 3-4 loss to Argentina in the FIH Pro League, highlighting issues with sloppy defending and unforced errors.

One of the key concerns has been the team's inability to maintain leads and close out games. In several matches, they have conceded late goals due to defensive lapses, which has cost them valuable points. Even coach Craig Fulton has addressed the issue of conceding late goals, but what's worrying is that senior players have bungled in the Pro League against experimental teams like Australia. After their latest 2-3 loss to Australia, Fulton said, “We had some good moments, but didn't really finish what we started." New tactics have included extended periods of man-to-man marking, which has allowed opponents to find gaps. In defence, the experienced Amit Rohidas and midfielder Sumit have been soft-headed in their execution, leaving goalkeepers to fend for themselves, and gifted goals which have cost the team dearly.

Despite these setbacks, there have been moments of promise and improved performance. In a match against Spain, the team secured a 2-0 victory, showcasing their ability to perform well when they maintain structure and keep the pressure on the opponent. However, consistency remains a challenge, and the team needs to address its defensive vulnerabilities and improve its ability to close out games.

Adding to the challenges, coach Craig Fulton has expressed concerns about the players' workload, especially with major tournaments like the Asian Games and World Cup approaching. The demanding schedule and the Hockey India League have taken a toll, leading to injuries and the need for careful squad rotation.

Indian Women's Hockey Team

The Indian women's hockey team has also faced a series of tough matches and is determined to bounce back. The Indian women's hockey team fought on equal terms against Australia but conceded a last-minute goal to lose 1-2 in its FIH Pro League match in London. This was India's second consecutive defeat to the same opponents as they had lost 2-3 on Friday. In another recent match, the team suffered an agonizing 2-3 defeat to Australia in the FIH Pro League, despite fighting back from a 0-3 deficit. Earlier in the FIH Pro League 2024-25, the Indian women's team beat world No. 1 Netherlands 2-1 in a shootout after holding them to a 2-2 draw.

While the results in Australia may not have gone the way the team would have liked, the Indian Women's Hockey Team are looking to build for the future. Chief Coach Harendra Singh said, “The Indian Women's Hockey Team is working hard behind the scenes to ensure that the squad is a robust one. While we have not had much success in terms of winning games on the tour of Australia, there has been plenty of positives from the performances already.”

Moving Forward

Both the Indian men's and women's hockey teams recognize the need to address their weaknesses, improve their consistency, and build momentum towards upcoming major tournaments. While the recent results have been disappointing, the teams are focused on learning from their mistakes and working together to achieve positive outcomes in the future.