Harmanpreet’s opportunity carries historical significance as India’s only World Cup-winning captain, Ajit Pal Singh, also led the team twice in the prestigious tournament. Under Ajit Pal Singh’s leadership, India secured a bronze medal in 1971 before winning the World Cup title in 1975, which remains the country’s only triumph in the competition. Harmanpreet now aims to replicate that achievement and end India’s 51-year wait for another World Cup victory.
After guiding India to a second consecutive Olympic bronze medal at the Paris 2024 Games, the experienced defender and drag-flick specialist believes the 20-member squad is fully prepared to challenge the world’s top teams at the upcoming tournament.
India have been placed in Pool D alongside England, Pakistan and Wales. The team will begin its World Cup campaign against Wales on August 15.
Speaking about India’s preparation, expectations and the team’s approach ahead of the tournament, Harmanpreet Singh said the squad has gained valuable confidence from recent performances.
Assessing the team’s journey towards the World Cup, Harmanpreet highlighted the importance of the Pro League performances, especially during the concluding phase in Rotterdam and London.
“Our performance in the Pro League, especially in the concluding leg, showed how much we have grown as a team. Our training and matches are progressing well, and we are excited to build on that momentum heading into the tournament,” Harmanpreet said.
He emphasized that maintaining consistency will be crucial during the World Cup, where every mistake can have a major impact.
“Consistency is very important for us. We have to perform well, improve match by match, remain focused throughout and avoid mistakes that can prove costly in a tournament like the World Cup. We have to follow our plans and play as a team,” he said.
Discussing the areas requiring improvement, Harmanpreet stated that being more clinical inside the striking circle will be a major focus for the team.
“The important thing is to be clinical in the D, whether attacking or defending. If we are defending, we have to do it well as a team. Our structure and understanding of players with and without the ball are improving, and we are focused on continuing that progress. We also need to make the most of opportunities, whether it is a circle entry, a shot on target, a penalty corner or an attacking set-piece,” he said.
Harmanpreet also praised the balance within the World Cup squad, which includes experienced players as well as promising young talent.
“The balance has been good. We have confidence in the team after how we performed against some top sides recently. We were competitive, and the youngsters understand the value of that. The experienced players are also helping the young players remain focused on our objectives,” he said.
Reflecting on his role as captain, Harmanpreet said his approach has remained unchanged since his international debut nearly 11 to 12 years ago.
“Winning a medal in a major tournament matters more to me than the number of appearances I have made. Earning more than 250 caps is also a significant achievement, and I am very happy to have reached this stage. I want to thank my team because they have always supported me. I want to continue fulfilling the expectations and responsibilities they have trusted me with,” he said.
Harmanpreet, who was part of India’s Junior World Cup-winning team in 2016, also shared his message for younger players in the squad.
“I always encourage the team to play with a free mind and enjoy the opportunity without taking too much stress. When you think too much, mistakes happen. At the same time, we must remain aware of our responsibilities. The message in the camp has been clear: do not worry about making mistakes, but if you make one, reacting quickly matters more. We have to support each other and make efforts as a team,” he said.
He further stressed the importance of carrying the right mindset into every training session before the tournament.
“The mindset you want to take to the World Cup needs to be brought into every practice session. Whatever you do and plan in practice, you apply that in matches, which is why practice is so important. I have full confidence in the team to carry that forward,” Harmanpreet added.
On the highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash in the group stage, Harmanpreet said the team must remain focused despite the excitement surrounding the match.
“Everyone is excited about that match, and there is an expectation that we will win. But we have to control our emotions and play smartly. We are excited to face every team in our pool, whether it is Wales, England or Pakistan. From the first whistle, we have to maintain pressure on our opponents and convert the chances that come our way,” he said.
As the countdown to the World Cup enters its final phase, Harmanpreet urged fans to continue supporting the team as India look to create history.
“We won an Olympic bronze medal after 41 years in Tokyo 2021, and that gave us hope. It has been more than fifty years since we won the World Cup, and I think it is time for us to end this long wait and create history. Keep supporting us, keep believing in us, and we will make sure we give our best every time we step onto the field,” he said.
With a strong combination of experience, young talent and renewed confidence, Harmanpreet Singh’s India will enter the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup with the ambition of reclaiming the world title and ending one of the longest waits in Indian sporting history.
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