India Crush Pakistan 7-1 to Extend 10-Year Winning Streak in FIH Pro League

India bounced back in spectacular fashion to crush Pakistan 7-1 in the FIH Pro League on Friday, June 26, extending their decade-long dominance over their arch-rivals with one of their most commanding displays of the season.

Less than 24 hours after suffering a shootout defeat to England, Craig Fulton’s side produced a clinical all-round performance, overturning an early deficit to register their biggest win of the campaign. Sukhjeet Singh, Harmanpreet Singh, Jugraj Singh, Abhishek, Rajkumar Pal and Dilpreet Singh all got on the scoresheet as India overwhelmed Pakistan in every department.

The emphatic victory also addressed concerns from India’s narrow 4-3 win over Pakistan earlier in the week, with the hosts looking far more organised defensively while converting their chances with ruthless efficiency.

Pakistan stunned India by taking the lead in the 13th minute. Despite India’s dominance in possession and three missed penalty corners, Abu Mahmood punished the hosts with a thunderous drag-flick from a penalty corner that beat goalkeeper Mohith Kumar and the line defender.

India’s response, however, was swift and decisive.

Early in the second quarter, Sukhjeet expertly redirected Harmanpreet Singh’s penalty-corner variation to restore parity. Minutes later, Harmanpreet rediscovered his trademark accuracy, firing an unstoppable drag-flick into the top corner to put India ahead.

Pakistan’s afternoon worsened when defender Ahmad Nadeem was forced off after suffering a serious facial injury.

“Unfortunately, the ball hit his eyeball. We’re taking him to the hospital and he’ll have an X-ray. We already have three injuries in the team; this is the fourth,” Pakistan coach Khawaja Muhammad Junaid said during the halftime break, according to ESPN.

Any hopes of a Pakistan comeback disappeared after the interval as India produced a devastating third quarter.

The hosts first converted a penalty stroke before launching a lightning-fast counterattack from their own circle. After successfully defending a Pakistan penalty corner, India transitioned seamlessly through midfield, with Jugraj Singh finishing off the move to make it 4-1.

Abhishek then joined the scoring with a superb reverse-hit finish following another flowing attack, before Rajkumar Pal reacted quickest to a rebound from a penalty corner to add a sixth goal. Four unanswered goals in the third quarter effectively ended the contest.

India refused to ease off in the final period. Mandeep Singh raced down the left flank before delivering a perfect pass to Dilpreet Singh, who calmly brought the bouncing ball under control and slotted home India’s seventh in the 54th minute.

Pakistan earned a handful of late penalty corners but found no way past a disciplined Indian defence, which comfortably preserved the six-goal margin. The result lifted India above Spain to 17 points in the FIH Pro League standings ahead of their final match against England on Sunday, while Pakistan’s wait for a first victory of the season continued.

For Fulton, the performance offered more than just two points. After recent scrutiny over India’s penalty-corner efficiency and defensive lapses, his players responded with a display that was both clinical in attack and composed at the back.