India defeated Pakistan 4-3 in a pulsating FIH Pro League match on Tuesday (June 23, 2026), extending their decade-long unbeaten streak against the arch-rivals in international hockey.
Result
Pakistan fought back immediately as captain Mahmood scored from a penalty corner flick through the legs of Indian goalkeeper Suraj Karkera to make it 4-2. With just 14 seconds left on the clock, Pakistan’s Shakeel scored on a penalty corner rebound to make it 4-3, but India held their nerves in the final seconds to secure the hard-fought three points. The contest began at a frenetic pace, with India earning the first penalty corner inside 90 seconds following a sharp baseline run by Mandeep Singh.
Pakistan, however, looked dangerous on the counter and won a penalty corner in the 13th minute. Ahmad Nadeem gave Pakistan the lead in the eighth minute through a penalty corner before Abhishek (22nd) struck from a field effort to draw parity.
Key Moments
Nilakanta Sharma then gave India the lead converting a penalty corner in the 24th minute as the Harmanpreet Singh-led side went into the breather with a 2-1 lead. India extended their lead in the 40th minute through a field goal from Sukhjeet Singh and then Rajinder Singh made it 4-1 from a penalty corner. Three minutes later, India won another penalty corner and Nilakanta reacted sharply to the rebound and smashed the ball through the goalkeeper’s legs to put India ahead 2-1. Raza stood tall for Pakistan later in the quarter, saving penalty corners from Jugraj Singh in the 28th minute and Harmanpreet a minute later to keep the score 2-1 at halftime in favour of India. After conceding an early goal, India stormed back through strikes from Sukhjeet Singh (20th), Harmanpreet Singh (26th), Hardik Singh (34th), Jugraj Singh (35th), Abhishek (41st), Raj Kumar Pal (44th) and Dilpreet Singh (54th) to register an emphatic victory at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London on Friday (June 26, 2026).
India seized control in the second quarter with quick ball movement and accurate long passes that stretched the Pakistan defence. Pakistan suffered a setback in the 18th minute when Ahmad Nadeem was struck on the face by a deflected pass from teammate Ali Ghazanfar and had to leave the field.
