The India men’s national hockey team suffered another setback in the FIH Hockey Pro League as they were beaten 0-2 by Spain in Hobart, continuing their disappointing run in the competition. The loss marked India’s fifth straight defeat in the men’s Pro League, extending a slump that has raised questions about form and consistency ahead of bigger tournaments. 
India’s performance against Spain was below expectations as they struggled to assert themselves against a clinical Spanish side. Despite spirited efforts in patches, India failed to break through Spain’s defensive lines and were unable to convert possession into clear scoring opportunities. Spain’s two goals came from disciplined attacking play that capitalised on India’s inability to maintain sustained pressure throughout the match. 
The Hobart fixture was intended to provide India with a chance to halt their run of defeats, but the visitors were unable to find the breakthrough they needed. Goals conceded in either half left India chasing the game, and they were unable to recover despite pushing players forward in the latter stages. 
This result adds to a challenging Pro League campaign for India, which has seen inconsistent form since the start of the season. In previous legs, the team has struggled to maintain momentum, including losses in the Rourkela leg where they were unable to secure any wins. 
There have been occasions in recent seasons where India’s fortunes against Spain have fluctuated. In the 2024-25 Pro League season, India suffered defeats but also registered wins, including a 2-0 victory over Spain at home in Bhubaneswar in a separate fixture last year. That match saw goals from Mandeep Singh and Dilpreet Singh as India dominated possession and finished strongly. 
However, their current campaign has been far from convincing. Defensive lapses and an inability to convert chances have been recurring themes, and the Hobart defeat did little to silence critics questioning the team’s tactical approach. India will now be looking to regroup and address tactical deficiencies ahead of their next Pro League fixtures, where points are crucial to keep hopes of a higher finish alive. 
Coach Craig Fulton and his support staff are expected to review the performance as the team prepares for subsequent matches, with an eye on both improving results and building confidence within the squad after a difficult stretch of games. 
The Indian camp will need to focus on tightening defence and sharpening their attacking edge if they are to turn around their fortunes in the FIH Pro League. With Spain having come out on top once again, India’s quest for a positive result in the competition continues to be a work in progress.
