The Indian men’s hockey team begins its FIH Pro League campaign this week with a brief but crucial home stretch, knowing sterner tests await overseas. Head coach Craig Fulton has made it clear that the four matches on home soil must serve as a launchpad for the challenges to come.
For several seasons, India has enjoyed the comfort of familiar conditions, hosting major tournaments including World Cups. This year, however, the opening Pro League fixtures will be the only games played in front of home support, with the rest of the campaign unfolding abroad.
“That’s what I said 18 months ago, we’ve got to get used to playing outside. It does change things a lot. You’re like just another team in another country. You don’t have this environment and the Indian way, Indian food, Indian culture and everything that we thrive on. But the objective is still the same,” Fulton said ahead of the opener against Belgium.
India will face Belgium men’s national field hockey team and Argentina men’s national field hockey team twice each — high-quality opposition that could shape the tone of a packed year featuring the World Cup and the Asian Games.
Fulton acknowledged a recurring issue when India plays away from home. “The challenge with Indian teams away from home is they start slow. That’s just how it has happened and then when our backs are against the wall, we come out fighting. Our objective is to play away and start strong,” he admitted.
After the recently concluded Hockey India League, the squad was given a short break before regrouping to refine its approach. “It was nice to give them a break after the Hockey India League and then we needed to get up to speed and to play our structure, not every kind of other team’s different structure. We need to play our Indian way with defence first mindset and it’s exciting,” he said.
Fulton emphasized balance — structure combined with freedom. “I think what we need to do is play the Indian way, have a good structure in place on and off the ball. But we allow the players to use their instinct, flair and skills within that structure. I think we’ve done a good job of reminding everyone how we want to play against Belgium and Argentina, they’re flying high and have got a good amount of points, we’ll test ourselves and go from there.”
With only four matches at home, India’s margin for error is slim — but the ambition is clear: build momentum now, travel confidently later.
