India’s women’s hockey team heads to the FIH Nations Cup 2026 in Auckland after splitting results against Australia in Perth. The tour continued the resilience they first showed in Argentina in April. One win, one draw, and two defeats across four matches against one of the world’s best sides on home turf.
Before the team departed for Perth, Captain Salima Tete had set out what she wanted from the tour. “We want to head into the Nations Cup in Auckland with momentum and confidence. Australia will push us to our limits, and we want to use that to become a stronger, more cohesive unit. The Nations Cup itself will be another important marker for us as we build towards the Asian Games and the World Cup. We want to peak at the right time.”
How the Series Played Out
| Date | Result | Indian Scorer |
|---|---|---|
| May 26 | India 1-2 Australia | Navneet Kaur (PC) |
| May 27 | India 1-1 Australia (Shootout 4-2) | Sushila Chanu |
| May 29 | India 2-0 Australia | Sonam, Lalremsiami |
| May 30 | India 2-3 Australia | Navneet Kaur, Deepika Soreng |
India lost the opener 1-2. Navneet Kaur converted a penalty corner for the only Indian goal. However, Australia’s Abby Wilson scored twice from penalty corners to secure the win for the hosts.
The second match ended 1-1 after regulation. Olivia Downes gave Australia an early lead. But Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam equalised in the final quarter. India then won the post-match shootout 4-2 with Navneet Kaur, Ishika Chaudhary, Annu, and Rutuja Dadaso Pisal all converting.
Read More: FIH Nations Cup 2026 (Women): Schedule, India’s Fixtures, and What Is at Stake
The third match was a different India. A disciplined defensive display kept Australia scoreless through the first half. Sonam then broke the deadlock with a field goal in the 36th minute, her first goal in senior international hockey. Lalremsiami doubled the lead in the 49th minute. As a result, India won 2-0 with a clean sheet.
The fourth match raised a question Marijne will need to answer before Auckland. Navneet Kaur struck in the second minute from a penalty corner. Deepika Soreng then doubled the lead before half-time. However, Australia scored three times in 16 minutes through Abby Wilson, Olivia Downes, and Courtney Schonell. India conceded three goals without reply after leading 2-0. The same thing happened in Argentina, where India led 2-0 in the opening match before conceding four. Consequently, how India manage a lead will be on Marijne’s agenda before Auckland.
Argentina: Where It Started
India played four matches against Argentina in Buenos Aires in April. They lost the first two 2-4 and 1-2. However, they won the third 2-1 through Navneet Kaur and Neha, both from penalty corners. The fourth ended 0-0 before India won the shootout 3-2. Navneet Kaur captained the side throughout.
The same pattern then repeated in Australia. India lost the opener, regrouped, and came back with their best performance of each tour in the third match.
After the Argentina series, Navneet Kaur said: “It isn’t easy to trail 0-2 against a world-class team like Argentina, but we showed the heart and character needed to fight back. These back-to-back wins prove that we are moving in the right direction.”
What India Can Take Into FIH Nations Cup 2026
India have played eight matches against Argentina and Australia across six weeks, both away from home. These are practice matches. However, competing against top nations on foreign soil and finding ways to respond when behind is not something a training camp can replicate.
Navneet Kaur has been the most consistent performer across both tours. She scored in Argentina, led the side as stand-in captain, and subsequently continued her form in Australia with goals in the first and final matches.
Sonam scored her first senior international goal in the third match against Australia. Meanwhile, debuts for Shilpi Dabas and Lalthantluangi show Marijne has used this window to build depth alongside results.
The Nations Cup in Auckland starts on June 15. India go there having been tested, having come from behind, and with at least one question about game management still to answer.
2026 is a big year for Indian hockey. Nations Cup. World Cup. Asian Games. A lot can go right. A lot can go wrong. Subscribe to the Give Me Hockey newsletter and follow every step of it.
