FIH Junior Hockey World Cup 2025: India squad preview, fixtures, strengths and weaknesses
The stage is set in Chennai and Madurai for the FIH Men’s Junior World Cup, placing the weight of a billion hopes on India’s young brigade. Led by defender Rohit and guided by the legendary P.R. Sreejesh, this two-time champion team is not just participating. It is aiming to reclaim the crown last won on home soil in 2016.
Fresh off a silver medal at the Sultan of Johor Cup, the India colts enter with momentum and the distinct advantage of a passionate home crowd. The injury to talismanic forward Araijeet Singh Hundal poses a setback, but it also offers the squad a chance to rise beyond dependence on star power.
Earlier this year, the junior side competed against top international opponents at the Four Nations Tournament in Berlin, followed by a European tour across Belgium, Germany, and the Netherlands before the Sultan of Johor Cup. Since then, the squad has undergone intensive training at its SAI Bengaluru camp, which included practice matches against the senior team.
The six-nation event in Malaysia exposed a clear concern: Penalty Corner conversion. Across seven matches, India managed only eight goals from 53 attempts. While ground conditions have been discussed at length, the issue remains significant heading into the World Cup.
“We have addressed the issue in the camp. We have put extra emphasis on both PC and PC defence. We have good drag flickers, who are flicking 200-300 a day. They have gained experience from the tournament and are now better equipped,” said Sreejesh.
Skipper Rohit will be central during short corners. The drag flick specialist was India’s top scorer in the previous edition (3), and in Hundal’s absence, the Chandigarh-born defender is determined to lead from the front. “We are very excited to play in front of our people. This is a big tournament, and we understand its importance. We have trained hard for the last two years, and now it is all about executing those during matches,” said Rohit.
As Sreejesh takes on his first major coaching assignment, he will inevitably draw attention. His focus, however, lies beyond immediate headlines. He views this campaign as part of a larger effort to secure the future of Indian hockey.
The four-time Olympian emphasised that while winning remains the primary goal, the tournament also serves as a platform to prepare players for the long road ahead.
Meet the squad
Goalkeepers
Bikramjit Singh, Princedeep Singh
Defenders
Rohit (c), Talem Priyobarta, Anmol Ekka, Amir Ali, Sunil Palakshappa Bennur, Shardanand Tiwari
Midfielders
Ankit Pal, Thounaojam Ingalemba Luwang, Adrohit Ekka, Rosan Kujur, Manmeet Singh, Gurjot Singh
Forwards
Arshdeep Singh, Sourabh Anand Kushwaha, Ajeet Yadav, Dilraj Singh
Reserve players
Ravneet Singh, Rohit Kullu
“One thing I always tell the boys is to dream big. They will not be playing in the junior team forever. Their dream should be to play in Los Angeles 2028 or Brisbane 2032. It is important for them to have a long vision about their career,” the two-time Olympic bronze medallist explained. “This is a place where they gain experience, playing in front of a huge crowd. They will learn to control themselves and execute the simple, basic things under pressure.”
All 18 members of India’s squad are part of Hockey India League teams, and many have already experienced packed stadiums. Still, performing in a franchise league and representing the country on home soil are entirely different challenges.
For India, success will hinge on the mental game and on transforming the weight of expectations and the crowd’s energy into fuel for a deep run.
“The team is very confident with the way we have prepared for this tournament, and we will continue our training to ensure we are fully ready for the challenges ahead,” said defender Amir Ali.
The 14th edition features a revamped structure, with 24 teams from six continents competing for the title.
India, drawn in Pool B, opens its campaign against Chile, followed by matches against Oman, which replaced Pakistan, and Switzerland.
The colts are widely expected to top their group and secure a clear path to the quarterfinals. Yet they must remain sharp from the outset, since one lapse can derail two years of preparation.
Indian hockey great P.R. Sreejesh oversees his first major assignment as junior coach, using the World Cup to test both results and the development pathway.
| Photo Credit:
HOCKEY INDIA
Indian hockey great P.R. Sreejesh oversees his first major assignment as junior coach, using the World Cup to test both results and the development pathway.
| Photo Credit:
HOCKEY INDIA
Performances in Malaysia highlighted vulnerabilities, particularly against fast counter-attacks. Losses to Australia, including the final, and a draw against Pakistan, illustrated how strong opponents offer few opportunities for recovery.
This sets up a strategic dilemma for Sreejesh: whether to lean on the traditional flair and skill that define Indian hockey or adopt a more structured, possession-oriented approach common in Europe. He prefers a pragmatic, situation-based method. “It will depend on the opposition. Against teams which will defend deep, we have to play in a certain way. Against teams which will employ zonal or man-to-man marking, we will have to adapt accordingly. I don’t want the players to relinquish the Indian skill-based style, but also don’t want to be boxed in one category,” Sreejesh concluded.
India’s real test is likely to emerge in the quarterfinals, when the squad encounters top-tier opponents.
As the senior national team navigates a transition, the spotlight now turns to the next generation. This is not just a chance for them to experience a major event. It is their defining moment, the opportunity to make the leap that places them at the heart of Indian hockey’s future.
A quiet revival gathers pace
Two years after hosting the Asian Champions Trophy, Tamil Nadu is preparing for another premium event as the FIH Junior Men’s World Cup 2025 brings global hockey back to the Coromandel coast for the first time in 17 years.
The Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai will co-host the tournament with a newly built hockey complex at the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu (SDAT) facility in Madurai.
“The Government of Tamil Nadu had a wonderful collaboration with FIH and Hockey India during the Champions Trophy. The idea [of hosting this World Cup] was to ensure the tournament reaches different parts of the State. Madurai already had a hockey turf and is adjacent to areas like Kovilpatti, Virudhunagar and Ramanathapuram, which are renowned for their hockey culture,” said Meghanatha Reddy IAS, Member Secretary, SDAT.
“Hosting a global tournament helps spruce up the infrastructure in the area, which will serve the people for the next 20 years at least. Players from close to 12 teams will be playing in Madurai. This will be a huge inspiration for the budding talent who wish to take up the game,” he added.
P.R. Sreejesh, double Olympic medallist and head coach of the men’s junior team, echoed that sentiment, backing the push to take big-ticket events to “hearts of cities and villages”.
“Conducting tournaments in the remote areas will help kids get a closer view of the sport, the intensity and the speed of play. When they dream about playing for our country, these experiences are going to show them the realistic way,” the former India goalkeeper said.
The Tamil Nadu government has allocated Rs. 25 crore to build the new Madurai stadium, which includes a world-class pitch and upgraded lighting. Another Rs. 7 crore has gone into improving the Chennai venue with tensile roofing and new seating.
Published on Nov 25, 2025