In March 2025, during the Australia–India Sports Excellence Forum, Hockey Australia CEO David Pryles announced a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Hockey Australia and Hockey India. As part of this collaboration, the two nations will face each other frequently in bilateral series.
To kick off the partnership, the Indian women’s team will tour Australia for a five-match test series from 26th April to 4th May. The test series will also serve as preparation for the upcoming Europe leg of the FIH Pro League.
Ahead of the series, Hockey India on Monday announced its squad for the tour. Led by captain Salima Tete, the 26-player Indian squad will face both the senior Australian team and Australia A. The squad includes five debutants and marks India’s first major outing since the retirement of veteran forward Vandana Katariya.
Among the debutants is Mahima Tete, the younger sister of captain Salima Tete. The other four players set to make their senior team debuts are Jyoti Singh, Sujata Kujur, Ajmina Kujur, and Pooja Yadav.
India will begin the tour with two matches against the Australia A side, followed by three games against the senior Australian team.
Schedule
| Date | Time (IST) | Team | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26-Apr-25 | 01:40 pm | India vs Australia A | Perth Hockey Stadium |
| 27-Apr-25 | 01:40 pm | India vs Australia A | Perth Hockey Stadium |
| 01-May-25 | 02:40 pm | India vs Australia | Perth Hockey Stadium |
| 03-May-25 | 03:10 pm | India vs Australia | Perth Hockey Stadium |
| 04-May-25 | 03:10 pm | India vs Australia | Perth Hockey Stadium |
Indian Women’s Team for the Australia Tour
The Indian women’s squad, led by captain Salima Tete, features a strong mix of experienced players and debutants. This will be India’s first major outing since the retirement of Vandana Katariya. The squad includes five debutants: Mahima Tete, Jyoti Singh, Sujata Kujur, Ajmina Kujur, and Pooja Yadav.
Forwards: Navneet Kaur, Deepika, Rutaja Dadaso Pisal, Mumtaz Khan, Baljeet Kaur, Deepika Soreng, Beauty Dungdung
Goalkeepers: Savita, Bichu Devi
Defenders: Sushila Chanu, Jyoti Singh, Ishika Chaudhary, Sujata Kujur, Suman Devi Thoudam, Ajmina Kujur, Jyoti, Sakshi Rana
Midfielders: Salima Tete, Vaishnavi Vitthal Phalke, Neha, Sharmila Devi, Manisha Chauhan, Sunelita Toppo, Lalremsiami, Mahima Tete, Pooja Yadav
Coach Harendra Singh mentioned:
“We’ve had a solid block of training at the national camp in Bengaluru, and the team is in good shape—both mentally and physically. Playing against Australia A and the Hockeyroos will help us fine-tune our game before the European leg of the FIH Pro League. We are in the process of strengthening key areas such as fitness, decision-making, and building a resilient mentality that allows us to stay composed and competitive in high-pressure situations. We aim to maintain the fighting spirit we showed in the Pro League recently.”
