India Thrash Pakistan 7-1, Extend Winning Streak to 17 Matches in FIH Pro League

London, Jun 27: India delivered a commanding display of attacking hockey to overwhelm Pakistan 7-1 in the FIH Pro League at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre on Friday, extending their unbeaten run against their traditional rivals to 17 consecutive international matches.

Having narrowly defeated Pakistan 4-3 earlier in the week, the Indian side produced a far more clinical performance in the return fixture. Despite conceding the opening goal, the Men in Blue dominated possession, controlled the midfield and repeatedly broke through Pakistan’s defence to record one of their biggest victories over the neighbouring nation in recent years.

Pakistan made a bright start when Abu Mahmood converted a penalty corner in the 13th minute to hand his team the lead. However, India’s response was swift as Sukhjeet Singh levelled the contest six minutes later with a composed finish after sustained attacking pressure.

Captain Harmanpreet Singh then put India ahead in the 26th minute with his trademark drag-flick from a penalty corner, giving his side a deserved advantage before halftime.

India completely took charge after the interval. Hardik Singh converted a penalty stroke in the 34th minute before Jugraj Singh added another goal just a minute later, finishing off a lightning fast counterattack that exposed Pakistan’s defence.

The relentless Indian attack continued as Abhishek found the net in the 41st minute, followed by Raj Kumar Pal two minutes later. Dilpreet Singh completed the scoring in the 53rd minute, sealing an emphatic seven goal performance that left Pakistan with no chance of mounting a comeback.

The statistics reflected India’s complete superiority throughout the contest. India made 36 circle penetrations and earned 13 penalty corners, successfully converting three of them. Pakistan, by comparison, managed only 18 circle entries and converted just one of their six penalty corner opportunities.

India’s midfield controlled the tempo from start to finish, with Hardik Singh and Manpreet Singh dictating play through accurate passing and relentless ball recovery. Their efforts allowed the forward line to create continuous scoring opportunities, while the defence remained organised despite Pakistan’s occasional counterattacks.

Hardik Singh’s outstanding all-round contribution earned him the FIH Player of the Match award after influencing both attack and defence with equal effectiveness.

The convincing victory further strengthened India’s dominance over Pakistan in international hockey, with the winning streak now stretching across an entire decade.

The result also boosted India’s position in the FIH Pro League standings. The team climbed to seventh place with 17 points from 15 matches, moving ahead of Spain, while Pakistan remained rooted at the bottom of the table without a single point after suffering their 15th consecutive defeat of the campaign.

Following the match, Hockey India celebrated the memorable triumph on social media, highlighting the team’s continued supremacy over Pakistan.

In a post on X, the federation wrote, “Dabdaba tha, hai aur rahega,” describing the performance as another example of India’s growing strength in world hockey. Hockey India praised the team’s attacking intent, defensive discipline and collective effort, stating that the comprehensive victory provides fresh momentum as the Pro League season enters its decisive phase.