GOOOOAAAALLLL! 2-0 India! This time it's the captain, the 'Sarpanch Sahab', Harmanpreet Singh! Another penalty corner, the signature drag-flick and goal No. 2 for India!

Q2 12' IND 2-0 WAL

GOOOOAAALLLL! Sanjay opens the scoring for India in the first quarter! A couple of penalty corners in succession for India, and Sanjay converts the second one. India take the lead, despite captain Harmanpreet Singh not being on the field.

Q1 9' IND 1-0 WAL

It has been a positive start from Wales in the opening minutes of the first quarter. A couple of attacking moves already from Wales, who are taking the game to the much higher-ranked Indian team. India goalkeeper Suraj Karkera has been sharp, denying the Welsh players.

Q1 5' IND 0-0 WAL

WE ARE LIVE! The Men's Hockey World Cup 2026 begins as India take on Wales. India are attacking from right to left in the first two quarters. India in all saffron, Wales in all black.

Q1 1' IND 0-0 WAL

India enjoy a massive head-to-head advantage over Wales in international hockey, having never lost to them in five outings in the past. In the five meetings, India won four, while one ended in a draw. Harmanpreet Singh and co. are certainly the favourites heading into the match.

We are around five minutes away from the scheduled start time of the Pool D game between India and Wales. It's the first match of the Men's Hockey World Cup 2026!

India's current hockey vice-captain Hardik Singh defended the decision to switch to saffron jerseys, calling it a "team decision":

"Our previous jerseys matched with the AstroTurf. And we were facing some issues. And I think if orange jerseys are beneficial for us, then why not try that? This is the team's strategy. It is a tactic," he said.

Here's what former India hockey captain Viren Rasquinha had said, after Hockey India announced the jersey colour switch from blue to orange:

"This is embarrassing. The legacy & identity of the Indian team has always been BLUE. I wore the Blue jersey with pride for many years. Fans want to see our Indian team in blue. What is the logic of orange?"

India's starting XI has been announced for their opening Pool D match against Wales! Here's the lineup selected by head coach Craig Fulton:

THE STARTING XI FOR INDIAN MEN'S TEAM'S WORLD CUP OPENER IS HERE!

India begin their FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026 campaign against Wales in Pool D at Amstelveen.

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— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) August 15, 2026

The Indian hockey team will play in their brand new saffron jerseys for the first time today. The jerseys stirred massive debate and controversy when unveiled, with former captain Viren Rasquinha questioning the change in colour from blue to saffron. However, it was later clarified that the jersey colour was switched because the blue jerseys clashed with the blue turf.

A very warm welcome one and all to NDTV Sports. Wishing you a very happy Independence Day, and what an occasion to start off India's campaign at the Men's Hockey World Cup 2026. India take on Wales in their first Pool D match today!

Stay tuned for all the live updates from the match.