After suffering seven defeats in a row, India registered their first win in the Mens FIH Hockey Pro League 2025-26, defeating hosts Australia 3-1 in penalty shootout at Tasmania Hockey Centre in Hobart, Australia today. The shootout followed after play in the regulation time ended in 1-1 draw.
India and Odisha forward Shilanand Lakra scored once each in regulation time and shootout. Goalkeeper Mohith Honnenahalli Shashikumar played an instrumental role in the Indian win, effecting three saves during the shootout.
Earlier in their first three matches of the Hobart leg, India lost to Spain twice and Australia once. India started their campaign on a disastrous note, losing all of their four matches in the first leg, held at Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium in Rourkela.
India changed seven players for the Hobart leg, bringing in goalkeeper Mohith Honnenahalli Shashikumar, Vishnukant Singh, Maninder Singh, Angad Bir Singh, Raj Kumar Pal and Poovanna Chandura Boby, in places of goalkeeper Pawan Malik, captain Harmanpreet Singh, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Nilakanta Sharma, Rosan Kujur, Sukhjeet Singh, Selvam Karthi.
Out of five Odisha players, who represented India in the Rourkela leg, defender Nilam Sanjeep Xess and midfielder Rosan Kujur were dropped. Kujur was ignored after making his senior international debut against Argentina on February 15.
INDIAN TEAM FOR HOBART LEG: Goalkeepers: Suraj Karkera, Mohith Honnenahalli Shashikumar. Defenders: Amit Rohidas, Jarmanpreet Singh, Sanjay, Amandeep Lakra, Jugraj Singh, Sumit, Poovanna Chandura Boby, Yashdeep Siwach. Midfielders: Rajinder Singh, Manmeet Singh, Hardik Singh (Captain), Moirangthem Rabichandra Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Vishnukant Singh, Raj Kumar Pal. Forwards: Abhishek, Araijeet Singh Hundal, Shilanand Lakra, Mandeep Singh, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Angad Bir Singh, Maninder Singh.
INDIA PERFORMANCE:
21 Feb 2026 (Tasmania Hockey Centre, Hobart): India lost to Spain (Ignacio Abajo 6-FG, Ignacio Cobos 36-FG) 0-2.
22 Feb 2026 (Tasmania Hockey Centre, Hobart): India (Amit Rohidas 15-PC, Jugraj Singh 43-PC) drew with Australia (Joel Rintala 47-PC, 56-PC) 2-2. Shootout: India (Shilanand Lakra, Maninder Singh, Raj Kumar Pal, Jugraj Singh) lost to Australia (Timothy Brand, Liam Henderson, Tim Howard, Jack Welch, Thomas Craig) 4-5. PoM: Jugraj Singh.
24 Feb 2026 (Tasmania Hockey Centre, Hobart): India (Maninder Singh 19-FG) drew with Spain (Bruno Font 59-FG) 1-1. Shootout: India (Shilanand Lakra, Maninder Singh, Raj Kumar Pal) lost to Spain (Jordi Bonastre, Marc Recasens, Pol Cabre Verdiell, Bruno Font) 3-4.
25 Feb 2026 (Tasmania Hockey Centre, Hobart): India (Shilanand Lakra 51-FG) drew with Australia (Jeremy Hayward 49-PC) 1-1. Shootout: India (Shilanand Lakra, Maninder Singh, Vishnukant Singh) beat Australia (Jeremy Hayward) 3-1. PoM: Mohit Honnenahalli Shashikumar (India).
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PHOTO: File picture of Odisha and India forward Shilanand Lakra.