Ahead of India’s FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 clash against Pakistan, former captain PR Sreejesh said the rivalry is no longer as tough as it once was. He backed Harmanpreet Singh’s captaincy and urged India to stay compact, press high and improve defensive coordination against Pakistan.
August 18, 2026: India’s hopes of progressing in the FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup 2026 face a crucial test against arch-rivals Pakistan following their defeat to England in the previous match. Speaking to JioStar, former India captain PR Sreejesh weighed in on the India-Pakistan rivalry, India’s defensive approach, and the importance of staying composed in pressure situations.
Sreejesh On India's New Formation
Speaking to JioStar, former captain PR Sreejesh shared his views on India's new formation and the defensive approach:
"The Indian men's hockey team has been playing a new formation for the past year and a half. That formation mostly forces us into defence, but in the recent Pro League, we pushed up and pressed hard in many matches. One important thing is that we need to stay compact in defence when playing against European teams. Otherwise, we should play our natural game in the World Cup. In defence, we used zonal marking, so we need to improve our understanding in that area. We should not drop too deep. We need to step out, press high, and defend even beyond the centre line."
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