India hope to continue fine run against Australia in FIH Pro League tie

Hosts India would look to continue ir fine form when y take on title holders Australia in ir next FIH Pro League tie here on Friday. India have made an excellent start to ir maiden FIH Hockey Pro League season and are currently sitting third in table with eight points from four games. Manpreet Singh-led side claimed five points from a possible six against Nerlands before claiming ar three in a stunning 2-1 victory over Belgium, reigning World and European champions. Red Lions bounced back with a 3-2 win in second match.

India hope to continue fine run 

Few would dispute that India, coached by former Australian international Graham Reid and captained by newly crowned FIH Men's Player of Year Manpreet, are playing ir best hockey in recent years. It would also be India's penultimate home tie at Kalinga Stadium here before y embark on a series of away games. But past records and statistics don't look promising for hosts as Australia have an outstanding recent record against India. world .2 Kookaburras have won 22 of ir last 30 meetings against world .4 India and have t faced a defeat since a 2016 Test match in Bendigo, Australia, when VR Raghunath scored twice in a 3-2 win.

Australia, mand by Colin Batch, who was recently named 2019 Men's FIH Coach of Year, also have an imperious record at Kalinga Stadium, a venue where y have t suffered a defeat in regular time since a semi-final loss at hands of Germany at Hero Champions Trophy in 2014. Australians were unbeaten in all six matches on way to claiming title at 2017 Hockey World League Final, and won five of ir six matches at Odisha Hockey Men's World Cup 2018, with only Nerlands getting better of m in a semi-final shoot-out after regular time finished 2-2. Kookaburras will be in a confident mood coming into tie after ir recent performances against Great Britain in FIH Pro League, where y claimed five points out of six.

Australia recovered from a difficult opening weekend against Belgium in which y earned just one point from ir two matches. y are currently placed at fifth spot with six points from four games. first match of two-leg tie will be held on Friday with return leg scheduled on Saturday.

After two matches against Australia, Indian team will leave for away games in Germany (April 25 and 26) and Great Britain (May 2 and 3). India will return to play on home soil on May 23 and 24 against New Zealand before travelling to Argentina to play on June 5 and 6. India will play last leg of Pro League round-robin matches in Spain on June 13 and 14.