Former India wicketkeeper PR Sreejesh questioned the men’s team’s performance after finishing eighth in the 2025–26 FIH Pro League for the second season in a row, saying India must compete with the world’s best rather than bask in success in Asian tournaments.India ended their Pro League campaign with a 3-2 win over England after a goalless draw in London on Sunday. The result helped India finish eighth with 19 points from 16 matches, after winning just four matches during the season. Only Pakistan finished below them in the nine-team table.Reacting to the campaign, Sreejesh said he spoke because he cares about Indian hockey.“I’m not against Indian hockey. I’m disappointed because I care. My knowledge of hockey may be limited and this is just my opinion. (Armchair coaches, you can skip this.)”He pointed out that India have now finished eighth in the Pro League in back-to-back seasons and dismissed the argument that India is experimenting with players or tactics.“The last two seasons of the FIH Pro League exposed the reality—we finished 8th. If it wasn’t for Ireland and Pakistan, the standings could look even worse. Don’t tell me we’re trying new players or applying new strategies.”While he acknowledged India’s recent Asian titles, he said they should not be seen as a yardstick to judge the team’s progress.“Yes, we won the Asian Champions Trophy and the Asia Cup. Congratulations to the team. But let’s be honest: those tournaments are no longer the yardstick to judge Indian hockey’s standing globally.”He also referred to the common view that India is building towards Asian games because it serves as a qualification for the Olympic Games.“Now the usual explanation will be: ‘We are focused on the Asian Games because they are Olympic qualifiers.’ That’s understandable—but the Pro League standings don’t lie. It showed exactly where we stood against the best in the world.”Sreejesh said the gap between India and the rest of Asia is clear enough that regional success alone should not satisfy the team.“Our junior national team can beat Pakistan, it also shows the gap between India and the rest of Asia. It is expected to win Asian tournaments. The real challenge is constantly competing with the world’s best teams.”He also questioned whether the investment in a foreign head coach is yielding the expected results.“So here’s the question: Are we spending €24,286 a month on a foreign head coach just to dominate Asian competitions? Or are we investing to become a real medal contender at the World Cup, Pro League and Olympics?”“Being satisfied with regional success while competing against the world’s elite should not be the standard for Indian hockey. Supporting the team does not mean staying silent. Real fans ask tough questions because they want higher standards—not lower expectations,” Sreejesh said.
