India, Feb. 26 -- One thing was absolutely clear in Hobart: the Hardik Singh-led India squad did not want a repeat of the home leg of the FIH Pro League.

Earlier this month in Rourkela, the Indian hockey team suffered four successive losses, two each against Argentina and table toppers Belgium, to begin their Pro League campaign on an extremely poor note. What made it worse was an 0-8 humiliation against Argentina-the joint worst defeat ever for India.

The Hobart leg of the elite nine-team tournament didn't take off well either as India went down 0-2 to Spain at the Tasmania Hockey Centre, marking their fifth loss on the trot. But performances gradually improved.

India secured three successive draws against hosts Australia (2-2 and 1-1...