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When Cricket Broke Hearts, Hockey Gave India A Reason To Smile

FIH Hockey Pro League: It was a Sunday that Indian sports fans would rather forgetuntil hockey stepped in to rescue the mood. While both the Indian mens and womens cricket teams suffered painful defeats on foreign soil, the mens hockey team ensured the weekend didnt end without a smile, producing a gritty performance to beat England in a dramatic shootout in the FIH Hockey Pro League. The heartbreak began at Lords, where Indias hopes of reaching the ICC Womens T20 World Cup 2026 semifinals came crashing down. Despite posting one of their best batting efforts of the tournament with 170 on the board, Harmanpreet Kaurs side watched helplessly as Australia chased down the target with an over to spare. Brilliant half-centuries from Ellyse Perry and Ashleigh Gardner powered Australia to a six-wicket win, knocking India out of the competition. For India, it was another familiar talemoments of brilliance overshadowed by a crushing exit at the business end of an ICC tournament. The defeat left them third in Group 1 with six points, while Australia and South Africa advanced to the semifinals. If that disappointment wasnt enough, more misery awaited thousands of kilometres away in Ireland. The young Indian mens T20 side, fresh from lifting the T20 World Cup earlier this year, suffered a shock 0-2 series defeat after Ireland clinched a thrilling one-run victory in the second T20I at Stormont. It was Irelands first-ever bilateral T20I series win over India and ended the visitors remarkable streak of 16 consecutive T20I series victories dating back to 2023. Even more impressive was the manner in which the Irish pulled it off. Lorcan Tuckers men showed tremendous character, defending totals in both matches to script one of the greatest weekends in Irish cricket history. Just when Indian sports fans thought Sunday had nothing left to offer, hockey came to the rescue. The Indian mens hockey team held its nerve in London, defeating England 3-2 in a tense shootout after regulation time ended goalless. The victory not only provided a fitting end to Indias FIH Hockey Pro League 2025-26 campaign but also ensured that the tricolour had something to celebrate on an otherwise gloomy day. Just when Indian sports fans thought Sunday had nothing left to offer, hockey came to the rescue. Also Read: Live Cricket Score Not every Sunday belongs to cricket. This one, unquestionably, belonged to hockey. Article Source: IANS

28 Jun 2026 11:30 pm