India’s disappointing campaign at the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026 has triggered some tough questions, and former goalkeeper PR Sreejesh has wasted no time in asking them.
Sreejesh, one of India’s most decorated hockey players, called for accountability after the men’s team crashed out of the tournament following a 3-5 defeat to Argentina in Amstelveen. The result ended India’s already slim hopes of reaching the semi-finals.
Taking to X, Sreejesh questioned whether India is building a team that merely plays attractive hockey or one that can consistently beat the world’s best teams.
“Here’s the uncomfortable question: Are we building a team to PLAY good hockey, or a team capable of WINNING against the best in the world?” Sreejesh wrote.
The two-time Olympic bronze medallist also urged Indian hockey authorities to stop using phrases such as “learning experience” and “good hockey” to explain disappointing results.
‘The World Cup Is Not A Rehearsal’
Sreejesh argued that the World Cup should not be viewed simply as preparation for future tournaments.
He pointed to the upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, where India will be expected to compete for a medal, and questioned whether success there would be enough to gloss over the problems exposed during the World Cup.
“Stop hiding behind ‘learning’, ‘good hockey’ and future tournaments. The World Cup is not a rehearsal. It is the World Cup,” he said.
He also asked who would be willing to raise the difficult questions following India’s underwhelming campaign.
“Who is going to ask the difficult questions? Who is going to demand accountability? And most importantly…Does anyone actually care?” he wrote.
India’s World Cup Campaign Falls Short
India entered the tournament with hopes of making a strong impact, despite finishing eighth among nine teams in the Pro League campaign preceding the World Cup.
Those concerns resurfaced during the tournament, with the men’s team eventually bowing out after its defeat to Argentina.
Sreejesh also questioned the tendency to celebrate certain results disproportionately, citing India’s win over Pakistan as an example while contrasting it with defeats against stronger opposition.
He suggested that beating an Asian opponent should not overshadow the larger objective of becoming competitive against the world’s leading hockey nations.
Questions Over Women’s Team Preparation
Sreejesh also raised concerns about the women’s team’s preparations.
India’s women’s side missed out on the semi-finals after being held to a goalless draw by Australia in a must-win encounter.
He questioned reports that women’s chief coach Sjoerd Marijne had left the World Cup camp during the tournament period.
While praising the players for continuing to fight, Sreejesh asked whether a team could realistically perform at its best when its chief coach was away during the final phase of preparation.
Asian Games Now Loom Large
With the World Cup campaign over, attention will soon shift towards the Asian Games, which will be an important tournament for Indian hockey.
For Sreejesh, however, the focus should not simply be on securing a medal. He wants the lessons from the World Cup to lead to genuine scrutiny and structural improvements.
His message was clear: India needs to move beyond celebrating isolated victories and talking about future potential.
The former goalkeeper believes the ultimate benchmark should be whether Indian teams can consistently compete with — and defeat — the best sides in the world.
For Indian hockey, the World Cup may be over, but according to Sreejesh, the difficult questions have only just begun.
