The Indian men's hockey team suffered another setback in their FIH Pro League 2024-25 campaign, succumbing to a 3-2 defeat against Australia on Saturday, June 14, 2025. This loss, held at the Sportcentrum Wilrijkse Plein in Antwerp, Belgium, marks their fifth consecutive defeat in the European leg of the competition. The team, currently ranked seventh in the world, had initially taken a promising two-goal lead, but the Kookaburras, ranked sixth, mounted a strong comeback to secure the victory.
India started the match strongly, with Abhishek scoring twice (8', 35') and giving India a comfortable lead. However, Australia responded with goals from Nathan Ephraums (42'), Joel Rintala (56'), and Tom Craig (60'), completing a comeback in the final two quarters. This defeat highlights the Indian team's struggles in maintaining consistency and closing out matches, particularly in the absence of their captain, Harmanpreet Singh, who was sidelined due to an injury sustained in the previous game against Argentina.
The match began with India displaying great intent. Abhishek's opening goal came from a well-executed play, receiving a pass from Manpreet Singh and skillfully beating the defender to find the net. India continued to dominate, and Abhishek extended the lead with another goal, seemingly putting India in a commanding position. However, Australia's resurgence in the second half exposed vulnerabilities in the Indian defense.
Australia's first goal by Ephraums came after Tom Craig's reverse hit was saved, but Ephraums capitalized on the rebound. Australia intensified their attack in the final 10 minutes, earning a series of penalty corners. Rintala converted one of these, and Craig deflected in Jeremy Hayward's flick to seal the win for Australia.
This loss is a significant concern for coach Craig Fulton, who has been emphasizing defensive solidity. India has conceded 11 goals while scoring only seven in their recent matches. Fulton is likely disappointed with the recurring errors and vulnerabilities during set-piece situations, which remain key areas of concern.
Despite the recent slump, the Indian team had a promising start to the season, winning five out of eight matches in the Pro League earlier this year. However, the demanding schedule and the need to manage players' workloads have presented challenges. The team is aiming to use the Asia Cup to boost their hopes for the 2026 FIH World Cup. To manage the workload, coach Fulton is considering implementing a rotational policy and developing a secondary team to ensure both rest and performance are balanced ahead of key tournaments like the Asian Games and the World Cup.
Currently, India holds the fifth position in the FIH Pro League standings with 15 points from 13 games. Australia is in a slightly lower position with 12 points.
