Sreejesh: Pakistan Matches Less Tough Now

India and Pakistan are set to renew their storied hockey rivalry in a highly anticipated group-stage match at the 2026 FIH Men's Hockey World Cup on Wednesday, August 19. The Pool D clash at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, Netherlands, is a sellout, with the 10,000-capacity venue expected to be packed with fans from both communities.

Former Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh, a two-time Olympic bronze medallist, believes the dynamic of the rivalry has shifted in India's favor. He stated that matches against Pakistan are "not as tough as they used to be," attributing the change to significant improvements in the Indian team's fitness, strength, game awareness, and decision-making. Sreejesh noted that India has moved past the late-game problems that once plagued them. "Conceding goals in the last quarter or final minutes used to be a problem for us, but that is no longer the case. Now, we are the ones scoring late to win matches," he said.

Sreejesh pointed to the evolution of the game, including the shift from 35-minute halves to a four-quarter system, as a factor in India's progress. While acknowledging Pakistan's potential, he assessed that "their current team's level is not the...