India beat Pakistan 4-3 in FIH Pro League London leg thriller
Synopsis
India trailed Pakistan after 8 minutes at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre — and still won 4-3. Four different scorers, a dominant statistical showing, and a nervy finish that Pakistan almost flipped: this was exactly the kind of high-stakes bilateral clash that underlines India's growing edge over their oldest rivals, unbeaten against them at any level since 2016.
Key Takeaways
India defeated Pakistan 4-3 in the FIH Pro League 2025-26 London leg on 23 June at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre .
India's scorers: Abhishek (21'), Nilakanta Sharma (24'), Sukhjeet Singh (34'), Rajinder Singh (52').
Pakistan scored all three goals via penalty corners through Nadeem Ahmad , Abu Mahmood , and Moin Shakeel .
India have not lost to Pakistan at senior or junior level since 2016 .
India move to 13 points and seventh place in the Pro League table; Pakistan remain bottom with zero points from 13 matches .
India's next matches: vs England on Wednesday , vs Pakistan on 26 June , and vs England on 29 June .
India staged a gutsy comeback from a goal down to defeat arch-rivals Pakistan 4-3 in a pulsating FIH Pro League 2025-26 encounter at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London on Tuesday, 23 June. The victory marked India's first match of the London leg and extended their remarkable unbeaten run against Pakistan at the senior level since 2016.
How the Match Unfolded
Nadeem Ahmad handed Pakistan an early advantage in the 8th minute, scoring against the run of play from a penalty corner. Harmanpreet Singh's side, however, responded with authority in the second quarter, with Abhishek (21st minute) and Nilakanta Sharma (24th minute) turning the match on its head. Sukhjeet Singh extended India's lead in the 34th minute before Rajinder Singh made it 4-1 in the 52nd minute.
The final ten minutes, however, saw Craig Fulton's men switch off defensively. Abu Mahmood pulled one back in the 53rd minute and Moin Shakeel struck in the 60th minute to set up a nervy finish. Notably, all three of Pakistan's goals came from penalty corners.
India's Statistical Dominance
Despite the tense finish, India were the superior side across nearly every metric. The Men in Blue registered 30 circle penetrations against just 9 by Pakistan, and earned 11 penalty corners to Pakistan's 8. India, however, converted only 2 of their penalty corners while Pakistan converted all 3 of theirs — a conversion disparity that nearly proved costly.
Where India Stand in the Pro League
The win is India's third outright victory in 13 matches this Pro League campaign, lifting them to 13 points and seventh place in the nine-team standings — overtaking Spain, who have 11 points from 12 games. India have also won one match via shoot-out, drawn two, and lost seven. Pakistan, with zero points from 13 matches, remain rooted at the bottom of the table.
India's Dominance Over Pakistan and European Form
This result continues a striking bilateral record: India have not lost to Pakistan at either senior or junior level since 2016. The run was reinforced recently when India's Under-18 side defeated Pakistan's junior team 5-3 in the Under-18 Asia Cup in Japan. The London win also builds on India's strong European tour, which saw them defeat reigning World Champions Germany and hosts Netherlands in the previous Rotterdam leg.
What's Next for India
India face hosts England on Wednesday before a second meeting with Pakistan on 26 June, and a final group match against England on 29 June — all at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London. With momentum building and a settled squad, the Men in Blue will look to consolidate their position in the standings before the campaign concludes.
Point of View
But the final scoreline flatters Pakistan and papers over a real concern: a side that dominated possession, circle entries, and penalty corner count still allowed a two-goal lead to be halved in the last eight minutes. Craig Fulton's men have a concentration problem in closing out matches, and against stronger opposition than Pakistan — who are winless in 13 — that lapse would be punished. The bilateral dominance since 2016 is real, but it is also a low bar. The sterner tests against England and, further down the road, the top-four sides in the standings will reveal whether this India team is genuinely title-ready or still a work in progress.
NationPress
23 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the result of the India vs Pakistan FIH Pro League match on 23 June?
India defeated Pakistan 4-3 in the FIH Pro League 2025-26 London leg on 23 June at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre. India came from a goal down to win, with four different players on the scoresheet.
Who scored for India against Pakistan in the FIH Pro League?
Abhishek (21st minute), Nilakanta Sharma (24th minute), Sukhjeet Singh (34th minute), and Rajinder Singh (52nd minute) scored for India. Pakistan's goals came from Nadeem Ahmad, Abu Mahmood, and Moin Shakeel — all from penalty corners.
How long has India been unbeaten against Pakistan in hockey?
India have not lost to Pakistan at the senior or junior level since 2016. The streak was reinforced recently when India's Under-18 side defeated Pakistan 5-3 in the Under-18 Asia Cup in Japan.
Where does India stand in the FIH Pro League 2025-26 table after this win?
India moved to 13 points and seventh place in the nine-team standings, overtaking Spain (11 points from 12 games). Pakistan remain bottom of the table with zero points from 13 matches.
What are India's remaining matches in the FIH Pro League London leg?
India face England on Wednesday, Pakistan again on 26 June, and England once more on 29 June — all at the Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre in London.
