India skipper Rohit keen to soak in excitement of home World Cup ahead of opener against Chile
After two years of planning, it is time to execute them in front of home fans as captain Rohit and India gear up to play their first match in the FIH Men’s Junior Hockey World Cup 2025 against Chile on Friday here at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium.
India, the world number two side, is considered a top contender to lift the trophy.
Yet, Rohit insists the team is keen to soak in the excitement, not be weighed down by expectation. “We [the team] have been waiting for this [first match] for a long time. We trained for this moment and can’t wait to play,” the skipper commented at a pre-match press conference.
The Indian Colts will take on underdogs Chile in their opening game. The two sides have never met at a FIH-accredited event, making it an intriguing contest as the host aims to settle early nerves.
Indian coach PR Sreejesh cautioned against complacency, stating that despite Chile’s No. 18 world ranking, his team would not take it lightly. The double-Olympic medallist explained, “On paper, we might be the favourite, but we have to play our game. The opponents are here to play, and we have to be switched on.”
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This tournament serves as a critical stepping stone, much like the 2016 Junior World Cup in Lucknow, which launched the careers of stars like Harmanpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh, and Gurjant Singh.
Sreejesh also underlined the platform’s importance. “Every single player in the team knows how important this tournament is for them. This is where their future begins, and a good show here would certainly mean they push for a place in the senior team,” he stated. “It has been several months of preparations, and now is the time to perform.”
Rohit praised the preparations, which included regular matches against the senior Indian side. “Coming here almost two weeks early has helped us get used to the ground conditions. The mood in the squad is upbeat, though there is some nervousness before we start. But we trust in our preparations and will take it one match at a time.”
Speaking about taking on India, Chile’s captain Felipe Richard said, “We are very excited to be here in India and looking forward to our first match against the home team. We have never played in front of a big crowd, so the team is very excited for tomorrow. We just want to perform our best.”
Coach Matias Amoroso admitted that it will be a tough test for his boys, but the absence of Pakistan presents a good opportunity for his team. “We have a very young squad, even in Junior World Cup standards. The average age is 18. We want to adapt to the international standards very quickly. It is an opportunity for the boys to learn, and hopefully, we will finish the tournament in the top 12.”
India and Chile are joined by Switzerland and Oman, which replaced Pakistan in Pool B.
Published on Nov 27, 2025