As the countdown to the 2025 Junior world cup Men Hockey begins, the Indian U21 men team finds itself at a pivotal juncture.
With the tournament scheduled from November 28 to December 10 in Chennai and Madurai, the two-time champions are preparing not only to capitalise on home advantage but also to address long-standing challenges that have kept them just shy of podium finishes in recent editions.
In the last 12 months, two key events have shaped India’s readiness the 2024 Sultan of Johor Cup (SoJC) and the 2025 European Tour. Each has served a distinct yet complementary purpose in fine-tuning tactics, testing squad depth, and identifying areas for improvement ahead of the expanded 24-team World Cup.
The Sultan of Johor Cup: Lessons in Attack and Defence
Held annually in Malaysia since 2011, the SoJC has grown into one of the most competitive U21 tournaments on the calendar, featuring a roster of top junior hockey nations. India’s history here is formidable three titles (2013, 2014, 2022), four runner-up finishes, and regular podium appearances.
In 2024, India once again finished third, beating New Zealand in a shootout. Their campaign, however, revealed two distinct patterns:
- Explosive offence : 17 goals scored in five group-stage matches, including a 6–4 win over eventual champions Great Britain and comfortable victories over Japan and Malaysia.
- Defensive fragility : 15 goals conceded, with the most glaring setback a 0–4 loss to Australia, underscoring lapses in structure and discipline against elite attacks.
While the podium finish reaffirmed India’s composure under pressure, particularly in shootouts, the inability to hold shape against high-tempo teams remains a pressing concern. Against the backdrop of the Junior World Cup’s knockout intensity, these vulnerabilities cannot be overlooked.
The European Tour: Building Depth for a Longer Tournament
The 2025 European Tour, held from July 8–20, offered a different challenge altogether. Marketed as an “India A” squad initiative, it brought together emerging and experienced players to face Ireland, France, England, Belgium, and world No. 1 Netherlands across three cities.
The tour’s objectives were clear expand the talent pool, expose players to diverse tactical systems, and test adaptability under varied match conditions. Results were mixed: three wins in eight matches, but heavy defeats to the Netherlands (0–3 and 2–8) served as a reality check on defensive resilience and sustained focus.
Crucially, this tour wasn’t solely about the scoreline. It was about ensuring India has the bench strength to navigate the expanded World Cup format, where a deeper squad will be needed to maintain intensity over a longer schedule.
Captain Sanjay and vice-captain Moirangthem Rabichandra Singh emphasised that this was an invaluable opportunity to experience hockey at a higher pace and refine tactical flexibility.
India’s preparation gains further context when viewed alongside the profiles of key rivals:
- Great Britain : Champions at the 2024 SoJC, resilient even after losing to India in the group stage.
- Australia : SoJC runners-up and responsible for India’s heaviest defeat in the tournament; boast a strong forward line led by Cooper Burns.
- Pakistan : Junior Asia Cup 2024 runners-up and in the same pool as India for the World Cup, adding a layer of rivalry to the group stage.
- New Zealand : Fourth at the SoJC, narrowly beaten by India in the bronze-medal match shootout.
Strategic Implications for the Junior World Cup
India will open their campaign in Pool B alongside Chile, Switzerland, and Pakistan. On paper, this pool offers a clear route to the knockouts, but the Pakistan clash stands out as an early high-pressure test.
From the SoJC and European Tour, several priorities emerge:
- Defensive solidity : Addressing gaps in transitions and penalty corner defence will be critical, especially against teams that thrive on quick turnovers.
- Penalty corner efficiency : Both conversion and defence remain key swing factors in tight matches.
- Mental conditioning : As hosts, managing expectation and pressure will be as important as tactics.
- Player rotation strategy : Leveraging the expanded squad to manage fatigue across an extended tournament.
Balancing Strengths with Realism
India enters the 2025 Junior World Cup with several advantages a potent attack, a proven track record in shootouts, and the boost of home support. But as recent results have shown, they must guard against complacency and over reliance on their forward line.
In a tournament where margins are razor-thin, defensive discipline will decide whether they can turn semi-final consistency into championship glory.
The next few months will be about fine-tuning, drawing on the wealth of experience gained from the SoJC and European Tour. The roadmap is clear; now it is about execution under the unforgiving glare of a home World Cup.
If India can strike the right balance between flair and structure, they won’t just be contenders they will be favourites to lift the trophy for a third time.
