The Bhubaneswar leg of the 2024-25 FIH Pro League concluded on Tuesday, with both the Indian men’s and women’s teams delivering commendable performances. The men’s team finished with five wins in eight matches, placing them third in the standings, just a point behind leaders England and Belgium. The women’s team secured two wins and a shootout victory against the Netherlands, accumulating nine points from eight matches to sit sixth on the table.
Indian Women Show Signs of Progress
The Indian women’s team displayed promising performances, securing victories against England and Germany before holding the Netherlands to a thrilling 2-2 draw. While inconsistency remains a concern, Harendra Singh’s tactical approach—emphasizing high work rate and quick transitions—was evident throughout the matches.
A key improvement was in finishing, an area the team has struggled with in the past. The trio of Deepika, Baljeet Kaur, and Rutuja Dadaso Pisal contributed crucial goals, showcasing the team’s attacking potential. However, the 0-1 loss to Spain and the 0-4 defeat to Germany highlighted the need for greater consistency.
Deepika, in particular, stood out with her three goals, demonstrating enhanced drag-flicking skills and composure in front of the goal. Her strike against the Netherlands was one of the standout goals of the tournament, embodying Harendra’s philosophy of maintaining calm in the attacking circle. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Savita Punia remained a rock in defense, ensuring the team remained competitive against top-ranked opponents.
Indian Men’s Team Impresses Despite Penalty Corner Woes
The Indian men’s team enjoyed a strong campaign, securing wins against Spain, Germany, England, and Ireland. Defensively, they were the best-performing side in the first half of the Pro League season, conceding just 12 goals. However, their penalty corner conversion rate was a major concern.
India failed to score from a direct penalty corner until their fifth match against Ireland, and it wasn’t until the final game against England that captain Harmanpreet Singh converted a drag-flick. Jugraj Singh, who entered the tournament in red-hot form after scoring 12 goals in the Hockey India League, struggled to replicate that success at the international level, missing multiple penalty corner opportunities.
With young drag-flicker Amandeep Lakra waiting in the wings, head coach Craig Fulton now faces a tough decision—whether to persist with Jugraj or give the promising youngster a chance in future matches.
On the positive side, India’s forward line flourished, with Mandeep Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Abhishek, and Gurjant Singh all finding the net. Mandeep, who had been under pressure due to inconsistent form, delivered a strong showing with three goals, demonstrating his ability to score in a variety of situations.
Defensively, Hardik Singh, Abhishek, and Amit Rohidas maintained their usual high standards, while Rajinder Singh impressed with his stick skills. In goal, Krishan Pathak, who took over as India’s No. 1 following PR Sreejesh’s retirement, faced strong competition from Suraj Karkera. Karkera’s composure during set-piece situations stood out, and he is expected to play a bigger role in India’s future campaigns.
What’s Next?
Both the Indian men’s and women’s teams will resume their Pro League campaigns in June. Additionally, discussions are ongoing for bilateral series before those matches, which would provide valuable preparation for the second half of the season.
With encouraging performances in Bhubaneswar, both teams will look to build on their momentum and address key areas of improvement as they push for stronger finishes in the Pro League standings.
