Indian hockey teams sharpen midfield ahead of FIH World Cup 2026

With the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 approaching, Indian men's and women's midfielders have highlighted the importance of communication, composure and decision-making. Senior players including Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh, VS Prasad and Sakshi Rana shared their preparations ahead of the tournament

Hyderabad: With less than a month to go before the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, both the Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams are fine-tuning every aspect of their game as they prepare for the marquee tournament.

While strikers often grab the headlines with goals, the midfield quietly dictates the game’s rhythm, links defence with attack and controls possession, leading to opportunities inside the circle.

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For midfielder Manpreet Singh, who will be the most-capped player at this FIH World Cup, his role extends far beyond distributing the ball.

“As a midfielder, I believe my biggest responsibility is to connect the entire team. We (midfielders) are the link between defence and attack, so it’s important to maintain the team’s structure and rhythm throughout the game. Beyond passing and defending, I focus on creating space, supporting teammates, making quick decisions and ensuring we stay organised in every phase of play. A midfielder has to be involved in almost every moment of the game,” he shared.

The Indian men’s team will compete in Pool D alongside England, Pakistan and Wales in the first phase of the tournament.

Manpreet’s teammate Hardik Singh echoed similar views. He believes a midfielder’s influence goes far beyond technical ability and also involves communication, awareness and game intelligence.

“Communication and awareness are extremely important for a midfielder because you need to keep the team balanced throughout the game. If you concede too many turnovers, you give the opposition more opportunities to take control,” he said.

It will be the first FIH World Cup to host both the men’s and women’s editions simultaneously at the same venues. Riding on the momentum of their FIH Nations Cup triumph, the Indian women’s team will face China, South Africa and England in the pool stage.

Neha explained that midfielders spend considerable time training alongside defenders as well as forwards to perfect this understanding.

For Indian men’s team midfielder VS Prasad, one of the toughest decisions in midfield is knowing when to release the ball and when to carry it.

“When I receive the ball, I first assess the situation before deciding my next move. I believe the ball always travels faster than the player. So whenever possible, I prefer quick passing combinations to move the play forward. At the same time, it’s important to recognise when to carry the ball. In the attacking half, I am more willing to take risks, but in our own half, if I’m under pressure, I focus on protecting possession, earning a foul if needed and helping the team restart play,” VS Prasad said.

Midfielder Sakshi Rana said composure is the defining quality when operating under pressure.

“When I receive the ball under pressure, my first thought is to stay calm. I try to scan the field before receiving the ball, so I already know where my teammates and opponents are. That helps me make quick decisions, whether it’s passing, carrying the ball forward or switching the play,” Sakshi said.