India’s women’s hockey team travel to Perth on May 21 for four warm-up matches against Australia. Both teams take the field at Perth Hockey Stadium between May 26 and May 30. Despite these being warm-up games, expect a cracking encounter between two evenly ranked sides, India ninth and Australia eighth, both going through a period of transition and finding their footing in international hockey.
For India, this is the second stop after their earlier tour of Argentina. The Nations Cup follows in June, the World Cup in August, and the Asian Games in September.
Why These Matches Matter
India’s relegation from the Pro League last season means they have no regular high-level competition this year. With no regular high-level competition to draw on, warm-up matches against top sides are the only way to build match sharpness before the big tournaments arrive. Playing Australia, the eighth-ranked team in the world, gives the squad the intensity they cannot replicate in training.
Argentina was the first benchmark. Australia is the next. Marijne called the Argentina tour an important reference point for his squad. The matches, he said, helped the players understand what consistent top-level competition demands.
“We are in the right direction,” Marijne said after the Argentina tour. “The most important thing was that Argentina set the benchmark. Now the girls know what is required to compete against a top side and be successful.”
Read More: FIH Nations Cup 2026 (Women): Schedule, India’s Fixtures, and What Is at Stake
He added that while results were encouraging, the focus remains on constant improvement, particularly with finishing inside the circle. Marijne pointed to visible progress from match to match, especially in the final two games where India matched Argentina physically and tactically.
Quote courtesy: RevSports
Australian head coach Rhett Halkett also framed the series as a preparation opportunity. “These matches are exactly what we need at this stage of our preparation,” Halkett said. “India and the USWNT bring different strengths and styles of hockey, which will challenge our group in different ways.”
Quote courtesy: Hockey Australia
Full Schedule
All four matches at Perth Hockey Stadium. All times in AWST and IST.
| Match | Date | Time (AWST) | Time (IST) | Venue |
| 1 | Tuesday, 26 May | 7:40 PM | 5:10 PM | Perth Hockey Stadium |
| 2 | Wednesday, 27 May | 7:40 PM | 5:10 PM | Perth Hockey Stadium |
| 3 | Friday, 29 May | 1:40 PM | 11:10 AM | Perth Hockey Stadium |
| 4 | Saturday, 30 May | 1:40 PM | 11:10 AM | Perth Hockey Stadium |
Read more: Sjoerd Marijne Quest: Rebuilding India for the World Cup
India Squad for the Tour
Hockey India announced the 22-member squad on May 18, 2026. Salima Tete will captain the side.
Shilpi Dabas and Lalthantluangi have both received their maiden senior call-ups. Sonam and Hina Bano are yet to make their senior international debuts.
Chief Coach Sjoerd Marijne said the squad balances experience with youth. “We have picked a squad with a good balance of experienced and young players, some of whom will get their first minutes at the international level. It’s important to keep developing players, and the best way to do that is under pressure in international matches.”
On what he wants from the tour, Marijne added: “This tour is to prepare for the upcoming Nations Cup. I want to see the level of performance we saw in our last two matches in Argentina and build consistency in our performances.”
Goalkeepers: Savita, Bichu Devi Kharibam
Defenders: Nikki Pradhan, Ishika Chaudhary, Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Lalthantluangi, Jyoti, Shilpi Dabas
Midfielders: Salima Tete, Lalremsiami, Neha, Sakshi Rana, Sunelita Toppo, Deepika Soreng, Sonam
Forwards: Navneet Kaur, Baljeet Kaur, Deepika, Annu, Ishika, Hina Bano, Rutuja Dadaso Pisal
Where to Watch
LiveHockey.com.au will stream the games LIVE for fans in Australia. Entry to the ground is also free. Hockey India is yet to confirm broadcast and streaming details for Indian fans. We will update this article once an official option becomes available.
By the time India leave Perth on May 30, Marijne will have four more matches of data to work with before the Nations Cup begins on June 15.
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