Subdued yet important rivalry: Indian men's hockey team takes on Pakistan

Usually extremely competitive in nature, the arch rivalry of India and Pakistan will take its turn on hockey turf tomorrow in the group stage game of the Asian Champions Trophy.

With a semi-final berth secured, India has been on a rampage in the tournament scoring 19 goals and conceding just three goals in the four games.

While Pakistan is placed second with one win and five points, the difference is very between the Indian team and the other teams in the tournament.

The Paris Olympics bronze medalist India defeated China 3-0, Japan 5-1, mauled Malaysia 8-1, and won 3-1 against Korea in the last match.

Pakistan on the other hand, has been very resilient grinding two draws against Korea and Malaysia and winning 2-1 and 5-1 against Japan and China respectively.

Guided by legendary Tahir Zaman, Pakistan will look to trouble the team considered superior to them.

Pakistan's last win came against India at the South Asian Games 2016 with India never lost in the last eight years. 

In the last game they played at the Hangzhou Asian Games last year, India thrashed Pakistan 10-2. A few months before that, the Indians beat Pakistan 4-0 when the ACT was held in Chennai.

At the Asia Cup in Jakarta in 2022, a relatively young Indian side held Pakistan to a 1-1 draw while at the 2021 ACT in Dhaka, India beat Pakistan 4-3 to clinch the bronze medal.

India captain Harmanpreet Singh, regarded as one of the best drag-flickers in the world, is continuing his good form from Paris and is excited to resume the rivalry against Pakistan.

"I have been playing with some of the players in the Pakistan team since my junior days and we share a special bond with them. They are like my brothers. Of course, on the field, we will go about the match like we would against any other opponent and make sure we keep our emotions in check," he said.

Though India enjoys an edge over Pakistan, Harmanpreet is least bothered about past results.

"Past results will not matter when we take on a team like Pakistan. They are a tough side and have the potential to bounce back at any stage in the game," he said.

No matter what the result is, the excitement for the match is there although subdued as compared to the yesteryears.