Published: August 15, 2026 at 10:34 pm
As the hockey world turns its attention to the FIH World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026, the Indian women’s team enters the global showpiece with a blend of experience, youthful exuberance and renewed belief.
India’s best-ever finish at a World Cup came at the very beginning of its history, when the team finished fourth in the inaugural edition held in France in 1974. More than five decades later, the Indian side will look to write another memorable chapter, carrying the weight of a proud hockey tradition while embracing the promise of a new generation.
Leading the Indian charge will be captain Salima Tete, who is set to feature in her second World Cup. Tete’s leadership will be complemented by a formidable core of experienced campaigners, including Savita, Navneet Kaur, Neha, Nikki Pradhan, Lalremsiami and Sushila – all of whom bring valuable international experience to the squad.
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A remarkable statistic underlines India’s depth of experience. The Indian squad is the only one among the 16 participating nations to feature five players with 200 or more senior international caps. At the heart of that experience stands goalkeeper Savita, who, with 313 senior caps, is the most capped player among all teams competing at the Women’s World Cup. Also, Savita is seven appearances away from equalling Vandana Katariya’s record (320) of most capped Indian woman hockey player.
Savita, Neha, Nikki Pradhan, Navneet Kaur and Lalremsiami will each make their third World Cup appearance, giving India a seasoned spine capable of helping the team navigate the intensity and pressure of elite tournament hockey.
The return of Sjoerd Marijne as chief coach has added another layer of familiarity and ambition to India’s campaign. Marijne, who guided the Indian women to a historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo Olympics, returned to the role in January this year. His return has coincided with an encouraging run of form, as India successfully built towards the World.
Under Marijne, India won the FIH Nations Cup 2026, a triumph that not only provided valuable momentum ahead of the World Cup but also secured the team’s return to the FIH Pro League for the next season. India had earlier booked their place at the World Cup by finishing runners-up at the FIH World Cup Qualifiers in Hyderabad.
India have been drawn in Pool D, alongside China, England and South Africa. Their campaign begins against China on August 16, followed by a meeting with South Africa on August 18. India’s pool-stage fixtures conclude with a high-profile clash against England on August 20.
“I am really looking at it match by match,” said Chief Coach Marijne. “So the focus is on China and winning that match. From there, we move forward. First objective is to finish in top two in our pool and reach the second stage.”
Tactical challenge for Indian team
The tournament format itself presents a different tactical challenge. Unlike previous editions, the 2026 World Cup will not have a conventional quarterfinal stage.
The top two teams from each of the four pools in the first stage will remain in the race to the semi-finals. Pools E and F in the second phase will have the top eight teams from the initial stage, while the remaining eight will be left to play for classification in Pools G and H. The teams finishing in top two positions in Pools E and F of second phase will qualify for the semi-finals.
To handle that pressure, the Indian squad combines the calm of seasoned international operators with the fearless energy of players experiencing the World Cup for the first time. India have 11 World Cup debutants, with 18-year-old Sakshi Rana the youngest member of the squad. Fellow teenager Sunelita Toppo, aged 19, is another promising player poised to experience the global stage for the first time.
Among the emerging names, star forward and drag-flicker Deepika arrives with confidence after finishing as one of the joint top-scorers at the FIH Nations Cup. She will be among the players expected to provide India with an attacking edge, while Sakshi, Sunelita, Lalthantluangi, Baljeet Kaur, Beauty Dungdung, Deepika Soreng and Ishika represent the promise of the next generation.
“You are always searching for the right balance of experienced players and junior. The seniors, of course, can help the juniors on how it is to play in a World Cup and also take responsibility when the pressure is on,” said Marijne.
With experience in the ranks, emerging talent knocking on the door and Marijne back at the helm, the Indian women will enter the competition with ambition in their hearts and an opportunity to write a memorable chapter in the country’s hockey history.
Pics: Hockey India
