India, Aug. 19 -- The rivalry is no longer what it once was. What began as one of the fiercest rivalries in hockey history eventually became a Pakistan-dominated contest, before India began turning the tables in the 2010s. India have now gone unbeaten against their arch-rivals this decade.

Yet, Wednesday's final Pool D match at the ongoing FIH Men's Hockey World Cup 2026, in front of a sold-out crowd at the Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen, Netherlands, promises to be a thriller because of what is at stake - a place in the second round.

India's task is relatively straightforward. They beat Wales 3-1 in their opener before defensive lapses cost them against England, who scored three times in the second half to overturn a 2-1 deficit and win...