New Delhi, August 12: Former India captain and legendary goalkeeper PR Sreejesh believes the Indian men's hockey team has the quality, depth and experience to finish in the top four at the FIH Hockey Men's World Cup 2026 in the Netherlands and Belgium, while insisting that the players must not allow the weight of expectations to affect their performance.
The World Cup gets underway on August 15, with the Harmanpreet Singh-led side beginning its campaign against Wales at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, Netherlands. India are drawn in Pool D alongside England, Pakistan and Wales.
Speaking to JioStar, Sreejesh said the World Cup, being the second-biggest tournament in international hockey after the Olympics, naturally brings enormous pressure
on the players. His advice to the team is simple: embrace the occasion, trust the preparation and focus on the job at hand.
"The FIH Hockey World Cup is the second biggest tournament in hockey after the Olympics and naturally, the whole world is watching, and all eyes are on you. That brings a lot of pressure. But you cannot let that pressure affect your game. "
Sreejesh believes overthinking the occasion can create a damaging cycle for players.
"When you start thinking too much about it, your performance drops. And when your performance drops, the pressure increases even more. So the key is to stay calm, focus on your role, and trust your training. "
Sreejesh's message to India: Enjoy the World Cup
Having spent more than two decades as India's goalkeeper and featuring in multiple major tournaments, Sreejesh knows better than most what it means to carry the expectations of a hockey-mad nation.
For the former India captain, the players must remember that reaching the World Cup itself is the culmination of years of hard work.
"Most importantly, you are playing in the World Cup. This is what you have worked for. Just enjoy the moment and give your best on the pitch," he said.
That message could be particularly relevant for India as the team prepares to play a World Cup on European soil, where the pressure of expectations will be matched by the challenge of facing some of the world's strongest teams.
'Top-four finish is the minimum we should aim for'
Sreejesh's expectations for the Indian team are considerably higher than simply making it through the group stage.
According to the former goalkeeper, India possess enough quality and depth to target a semi-final place.
"In my opinion, the way this team is set up and the progress we have made, a top four finish is the minimum we should aim for. "
India's recent results provide some basis for that confidence. The team finished eighth in the 2025-26 FIH Pro League, but ended the campaign strongly, recording victories over reigning world champions Germany and Olympic champions the Netherlands. India also pushed England in their final phase of matches.
Sreejesh believes those performances, combined with India's squad depth, should give the team confidence heading into the World Cup.
"Looking at the pool we have been drawn in, we have the quality and the depth to achieve that," he said.
India's World Cup challenge
India's Pool D campaign begins against Wales on August 15, before matches against England and Pakistan.
The group-stage results will be particularly important under the tournament's new format, with points earned in the opening league phase carrying into the next stage. That makes every match - including India's opener against Wales - potentially significant for the team's route towards the knockout rounds.
India will also be looking to end a long wait for a World Cup medal. The country's last men's World Cup podium finish came in 1975, when India won the title in Kuala Lumpur.
Head coach Craig Fulton has already made clear that India want to write their own history at the tournament, while the team's performances in the latter stages of the Pro League have offered encouragement ahead of the World Cup.
Medal would be a bonus, says Sreejesh
While Sreejesh believes India should set their sights on the top four, he is not putting unnecessary pressure on the team to win a medal.
"Anything beyond that, silver, gold, or bronze, would be a bonus," he said.
The former goalkeeper also pointed to the team's confidence and big-match experience as reasons for optimism.
"The team is playing with confidence, and we have the experience to handle big games. We should not settle for less. The target is clear, we are here to compete and make our mark. "
For a player who was part of India's bronze-medal-winning campaigns at the Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024 Olympics, Sreejesh's assessment carries considerable weight.
India will now look to turn that confidence into results when their World Cup campaign begins in Amstelveen.
The FIH Hockey Men's World Cup 2026 will be played from August 15 to 30 across the Netherlands and Belgium, with the Indian men's team in action live on JioHotstar and Star Sports.
