India vs Pakistan Headlines FIH Pro League 2025-26 London Leg as Harmanpreet Singh’s Side Eyes Strong Finish
The Indian men’s hockey team is set for a crucial week in the FIH Men’s Pro League 2025-26 as it heads to London for four high-profile fixtures, including two much-anticipated clashes against arch-rivals Pakistan.
Scheduled between June 23 and June 28, the London leg will also see India take on hosts England twice as it looks to build momentum and climb the standings. With the European tour nearing its conclusion, the upcoming matches carry significance beyond just points. They provide India with an opportunity to continue its recent improvement, renew one of hockey’s most celebrated rivalries, and test itself against an England side currently enjoying an impressive campaign.
The biggest talking point of the London leg is undoubtedly the return of the India-Pakistan rivalry. The two teams are set to meet twice within four days, rekindling a contest that has produced countless memorable moments in international hockey.
Interestingly, this will be the first meeting between the two sides in nearly two years. Their last encounter came at the 2024 Asian Champions Trophy in Hulunbuir, China, where India emerged victorious with a 2-1 win.
Recent history overwhelmingly favours the Indian team. Over the past decade, India has remained unbeaten against Pakistan across 17 meetings, recording 15 victories and two draws. That dominant record will give Harmanpreet Singh’s men confidence, but Pakistan’s unpredictability means India cannot afford complacency.
For fans across the subcontinent, the fixtures are expected to be among the most eagerly watched matches of the Pro League season.
India heads into the London leg after producing several encouraging performances in Rotterdam against elite European opposition. The campaign began with a narrow 2-3 defeat to the Netherlands, but the team responded impressively by defeating reigning world champions Germany 3-1. Although India suffered a 1-2 loss in the reverse fixture against Germany, it finished the Rotterdam leg on a high by registering an excellent 3-2 victory over the Netherlands.
Winning two of four matches against two of the world’s strongest teams demonstrated the progress India has made under head coach Craig Fulton and highlighted the squad’s ability to compete consistently against top-ranked opposition.
Perhaps most encouraging was the team’s improved defensive organisation and composure in key moments, qualities that will be essential against Pakistan and England.
Ahead of the highly anticipated clashes, head coach Craig Fulton has urged his players to approach Pakistan just like any other opponent. Speaking before the London fixtures, Fulton stressed the importance of maintaining discipline and sticking to the team’s processes rather than getting carried away by the occasion.
“For us, it’s important that we treat the fixture against Pakistan like any other game and focus on our processes. If we really do that well, then the result takes care of itself,” he said.
The South African coach also expressed satisfaction with India’s performances in Rotterdam, noting that the consistency shown by the players reflected the hard work put in during preparation.
While much of the attention will focus on Pakistan, India also faces a formidable challenge in hosts England. The English side currently sits second in the FIH Pro League standings with 26 points, making them one of the competition’s best-performing teams this season. Their home advantage and recent form make them dangerous opponents.
Fulton acknowledged England’s quality, describing them as one of the in-form teams in the tournament while expressing confidence in his own squad’s readiness for the challenge.
The double-header against England could prove decisive in determining India’s final position in the standings.
India enters the London leg in eighth place with 10 points from 12 matches. Pakistan occupies ninth position and is yet to register a point, while England has established itself among the leaders with an impressive tally of 26 points from the same number of games. Although India faces an uphill task to move significantly up the table, positive results in London would provide a valuable boost heading into future international assignments and reinforce the team’s progress under Fulton’s leadership.
More importantly, victories against Pakistan and England would further strengthen confidence within a squad that continues to evolve ahead of major global competitions.
London Schedule
India’s fixtures in the London leg are as follows:
June 23: India vs Pakistan
June 25: India vs England
June 26: India vs Pakistan
June 28: India vs England
The back-to-back encounters promise four demanding contests in just six days, testing the squad’s fitness, depth and adaptability.
Having already demonstrated its ability to compete with top European sides in Rotterdam, India now has the chance to finish its European tour with another statement performance.
The clashes against Pakistan will carry emotional significance and historical importance, while the matches against England offer an opportunity to measure progress against one of the world’s leading teams.
With Harmanpreet Singh leading an experienced squad and Craig Fulton instilling tactical discipline, India will enter the London leg aiming not only to collect points but also to build momentum for the challenges that lie ahead. For hockey fans, particularly in India, the return of the India-Pakistan rivalry adds an extra layer of excitement to what promises to be an action-packed week in the FIH Pro League.
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