Captain Ketan Kushwaha's Hat-Trick Powers India to 13-0 Rout of Kazakhstan in U-18 Asia Cup Opener
The Indian U-18 Men's Hockey Team could not have asked for a better start to its U-18 Asia Cup 2026 campaign.
Led by a sensational hat-trick from captain Ketan Kushwaha, India produced a ruthless attacking display to thrash Kazakhstan 13-0 in their Pool A opener in Kakamigahara, Japan, on Friday. The one-sided contest showcased India's superior skill, pace and finishing ability as the young side overwhelmed Kazakhstan from the opening whistle. Four Indian players scored braces, while seven different names found the scoresheet in a performance that underlined India's ambitions of making a deep run in the tournament.
Kushwaha led by example with three goals, while Prahalad Rajbhar, Ashish Tani Purti, Ansh Bahutra and Shahrukh Ali all scored twice. Gazee Khan and Akash Deep also got on the scoresheet to complete a memorable opening-day victory.
India began the match on the front foot and spent most of the opening quarter camped inside the Kazakhstan half. Although the Central Asian side initially resisted the pressure, it was only a matter of time before India's relentless attacks broke through. The breakthrough arrived in the 12th minute when Shahrukh Ali unleashed a powerful strike from inside the circle to give India a deserved lead.
Just two minutes later, Prahalad Rajbhar doubled the advantage after capitalising on another attacking move. With two quick goals, India seized complete control of the match and never looked back.
The early strikes settled any nerves and allowed the Indian players to play with increasing confidence and freedom.
The second quarter brought even more misery for Kazakhstan. Captain Ketan Kushwaha joined the scoresheet in the 18th minute, finishing from close range after India forced a turnover high up the field. The goal highlighted India's aggressive pressing and ability to convert possession into scoring opportunities.
Only two minutes later, Gazee Khan made it 4-0 as India's attack continued to tear through the Kazakhstan defence. The goals kept coming before the interval.
Shahrukh Ali completed his brace in the 29th minute with another clinical finish, while Ashish Tani Purti converted a penalty corner a minute later to send India into the half-time break with a commanding 6-0 lead. By that stage, the result was already beyond doubt. The only remaining question was how many goals India would score.
If the first half belonged to India's forwards, the third quarter highlighted the team's effectiveness from penalty corners. India scored five times during a devastating 15-minute spell that completely dismantled Kazakhstan's resistance. Ansh Bahutra opened the scoring in the quarter by converting a penalty corner in the 31st minute. Purti soon added his second goal of the match, once again from a set-piece situation.
Bahutra then struck again in the 44th minute to complete his brace and further extend India's lead.
The final minute of the quarter belonged entirely to captain Kushwaha.
The forward struck twice in quick succession, including a penalty-corner conversion, to complete a superb hat-trick. His leadership and finishing quality were among the standout features of India's performance.
By the end of the third quarter, India had surged to an astonishing 11-0 advantage.
Despite holding an unassailable lead, India continued to attack in the final quarter. The intensity remained high as the young side looked determined to maintain standards and finish strongly. Akash Deep added the twelfth goal in the 47th minute after tapping the ball into an open net following another well-worked attacking move.
Prahalad Rajbhar then completed his brace in the 51st minute to cap off the scoring and take India's tally to 13 goals.
Kazakhstan struggled to create any meaningful opportunities throughout the contest, while India's defence remained largely untroubled. The comprehensive nature of the victory reflected the gulf in quality between the two sides on the day.
Beyond the scoreline, there were several encouraging aspects for the Indian camp. The team displayed excellent attacking structure, created chances from open play and penalty corners, and showed impressive composure in front of goal. The spread of goals across multiple players also highlighted the depth available within the squad.
Particularly pleasing for the coaching staff will be the efficiency from penalty corners, which contributed significantly to the final scoreline. At major tournaments, set-piece conversion often proves decisive, and India's performance in that area offered plenty of promise.
Captain Ketan Kushwaha's hat-trick will also boost confidence ahead of tougher challenges to come.
While the opening victory was emphatic, India know sterner tests lie ahead in Pool A. Their next match comes against hosts Japan on May 31, a fixture expected to provide a far more accurate measure of India's title credentials. Japan will have home support behind them and will likely pose a significantly greater challenge than Kazakhstan.
Korea and Chinese Taipei also remain to be faced in the group stage, with the top two teams progressing to the semi-finals.
For now, however, India can celebrate a near-perfect start. A 13-0 victory, a captain's hat-trick, seven different goalscorers and three points on the board represent an ideal opening chapter in the team's quest for continental glory at the U-18 Asia Cup 2026.
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