Hockey World Cup, Pool D, India vs England as it happened: Thrilling game ends goalless

09.45 pm: India will sweat on Hardik Singh’s fitness, that’s the downside to tonight. Their forward didn’t quite click. Like Ollie Payne said in the post-match interview, “We had a good game overall but are a little disappointed not to have capitalised on the scoring opportunities we had today. Both camps will feel that way. It was a game we could’ve won, but it’s a hard-earned point and we will take it.” All to play for in this Pool D with two games to go. Thanks for joining us.

Player of the match: England’s goalkeeper Ollie Payne.

Pool D, India 0-0 England, Full time: It ends 0-0! Would you believe it? A stunning match of hockey between two well-matched teams ends goal-less, but certainly not event-less. Both teams had chances to win, neither team deserved to lose.

Pool D, India 0-0 England, Full time: That was actually a brilliant defensive save on the line by Surender Kumar!

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q4: BANDURAK NEARLY STOLE IT AT THE END! But looks like the hooter went just before the ref gave another PC.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q4: Wow, off the post!!! India hang on.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q4: Worried faces in the stands.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q4: A PC for England with 19 secs to go.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q4: Another break in play as Manpreet gets the ball in face. India come down the left with 50 secs to go, no PC.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q4: A foray down the left for Harmanpreet but the ball in is defended well enough. Another break in play, for an England injury. Goodfield limps but seems ok.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q4: A round of applause from the fans for good defensive work. Knowledgeable crowd and all that.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q4: Almost done here, last 2 mins. India still down to 10. England pressure. But India hang on.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q4: This is a controversial moment... but finally no change of decision. Hard to always tell if the defender put the ball behind the byline intentionally.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q4: Lots of pressure on Indian defence at the moment. England have asked for a PC on review with 2.16 left.

Dilip Unnikrishnan from the stadium: Some concern for India after Hardik goes down clutching his thigh. Looks in some discomfort there. Oh no, he’s being helped off the field now

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q4: Liam Sanford with two stunning diving interceptions. And after that play, Hardik is on the floor. India must be desperately hoping it’s not serious.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q4: All England at the moment. India back to XI.

Dilip Unnikrishnan from the stadium: India had 73% possession in Q4. But as I type this, England slowly build and nearly give Krishan some work to do. The English players were asking for a PC but the umpire was firm in not giving them one.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q4: And as India go to 10, England with attacking pressure. They want a review but go up for it late.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q4: Late indiscipline from India. Amit Rohidas gets a green card, with 8 mins on the clock. Two mins with 10 for the hosts.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q4: Lalit has had an average game for India in attack. A great ball from Manpreet in midfield, Lalit does well to receive it but the final ball is poor.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q4: Ansell does well in a rare attack for England now. But India calmly deal with it. Both sides clearly eyeing the win still.

Dilip Unnikrishnan from the stadium: A very good start to Q4 from India. Not allowing England to come away with the ball

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q4: The attacking pressure is from India early in Q4. Couple of long balls leading to half chances. Payne with another big save (not sure who got the shot away).

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q4: The final Q is underway. For the record, I think India would be the happier side with the draw but both sides still going for the win. Pathak back in goal for India.

Dilip Unnikrishnan from the stadium: Mandeep Singh with a beautiful touch there from Harmanpreet’s pass to set up a chance for Akashdeep but Payne makes the save. Mandeep revving up to come alive in Q4. Boss it’s going to be close! (Note: That last line might have been for the blogger, but still valid)

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q3: And breathe... briefly. Final quarter coming up.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q3: Goal... no, not a goal. India are celebrating. But Mandeep will be denied by the umpires, whistle blown before the ball went in and India don’t have a review anyway

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q3: England are down to 10 for a couple of mins with a green card. Huge chance for India there after good work by Hardik sets up Mandeep. But the shot is dragged wide.

Dilip Unnikrishnan from the stadium: Hardik Singh you beauty! What a brilliant run from the No 8! Pity India didn’t take the lead there. Then India escape! Sam Ward with all the time in the world see his chip go past the post

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q3: England with a HUGE Chance. Sam Ward is 1v1 with Sreejesh but the Indian veteran closes the angle and the shot is wide.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q3: Majestic run that was by Hardik from the halfway line down the right to nearly putting India ahead. There is a bloody England defender face (Rushmere I think) and a pause in play.

Dilip Unnikrishnan from the stadium: Good work there from Sreejesh to come out and close down the angle. Jarmanpreet heaves a sigh of relief

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q3: Magnificent midfield work by India to go down the left but Lalit messes up the move down the left. Nilakanta wins the ball back but the final outcome is still missing. England counter and a hit on goal is wide as Sreejesh comes out and closes the angle.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q3: Manpreet with a fancy tweener pass and it nearly takes India to a good attacking position but England defend well.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q3: Oh dear, India lose their referral right at the start of the second half. That’s far too early in the match to not have reviews. Akashdeep thought he got the foot but it was high.

Dilip Unnikrishnan from the stadium: That was an entertaining first half. And it went by so quickly! Manpreet and Harmanpreet Singh have been good today although the latter is yet to open his account. The Indian forwards, however, haven’t really clicked tonight. England haven’t been bogged down by the crowd and created chances but were able to force only one save. This has been set up nicely for a feisty second half. We didn’t even realise that the half was about to end!

India coach Graham Reid: Both teams had their opportunities. We can’t give away that many PCs and be expecting to keep a clean sheet. In attack we need to hold the ball better.

Pool D, India 0-0 England at half time: What a breathtaking half of hockey. So eventful, even though goalless. 11 PCs combined, all saved by great defending. Fantastic energy to this match.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q2: PAYNE SAVES! Big chance for India again after great work by Mandeep and I think the final shot came from Vivek but Payne up for it.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q2: EVERYTHING HAPPENING. Xess with a stunning diving tackle as England threatened from a long ball to Ward. Then India countered, Manpreet nearly with a great goal. Just wide. England meanwhile think there has been an elbow but no refereeing call on that. Didn’t see a replay either. India with a great chance through Hardik, but Payne with a great save. And finally England keep India’s PCs out too. PHEW.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q2: India can’t convert their PC either. Good rush, they get the free out too.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q2: India have a PC, won by the captain himself it seemed like. Yes, great move by Harmanpreet down the right.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q2: Down come India on a counter, Hardik released down the left but his ball into the circle is high and deemed dangerous.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q2: Dilip assures me the crowd is still very loud.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q2: Amit Rohidas showing now why he is the best first-rusher, India ready for a counter as Hardik hits a powerful long ball. Akashdeep at the other end of the pitch couldn’t control it. Would have been some goal if that move went in.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q2: Just as it felt like India were gaining some control, another PC for England. More pressure down the left.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q2: Just feels like the crowd has gone a bit quieter at the moment. Will check with Dilip on that. But credit to England for this start.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q2: The last few updates are for Q2. Correction. India with good attacking work by Lalit but no outcome from that.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q2: PC defence has been ace from India. Manpreet rushed to close the angle, Harmanpreet with the tackle.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q2: PC No 6 for England.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q2: Pathak in goal for Q2. And he is called into action early. The save though results in a PC.

Dilip Unnikrishnan from the stadium: When Amit Rohidas, India’s designated first rusher was off the pitch, anpreet was on first-rusher duty. And the No 7 did a good enough job there making sure Sreejesh didn’t have to make a save

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q1: Excellent move down the left from England and the final-ball is into a danger area, Amit Rohidas with another stunning defensive work.

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Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q1: Error in trapping, looks like Sukhjeet and Harman can’t get a shot away.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q1: Excellent from Hardik-Shamsher-Mandeep down the right flank and India have their first PC. Here we go then. Harman on the pitch.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q1: Experience from Sreejesh to dummy a long ball from England knowing there is no one at the far post. India really unable to put together anything attack wise since the early exchanges.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q1: India have weathered the storm for now. But England will definitely be the happier camp at the moment.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q1: Sreejesh with a good save but India concede another PC. Deflected away... another PC. Wait, another PC too now. Lost count already! England putting India under great pressure.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q1: The Indian defence is without Harman and Amit for this. But Manpreet is a great rusher too and he foots it away. Another PC, another great rush from Manpreet. There is a counter on, but doesn’t materialise.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q1: The long ball into the Indian box but Surender is unable to control it cleanly, the ball hits his feet. PC for England.

Dilip Unnikrishnan from the stadium: Boos here and there whenever England get the ball. Spain coach Max Caldas had said after the first match that the crowd doesn’t get hostile here but it seems they might make an exception for England

Dilip Unnikrishnan from the stadium: India quicker off the blocks tonight than they were against Spain. Akashdeep and Hardik combined really well on the left to nearly give India the lead. That would have brought the roof down

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q1: The match is now settling into a rhythm were India are starting to control the ball more. Manpreet with a superb low ball from deep but the final ball is missing.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q1: Both teams spoke about defensive importance but the match has begun with a nice attacking verve from both camps. Good entertaining start.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q1: With less than a minute on clock, India try to create the first opening with Akashdeep and Hardik combining. England counter. And Amit Rohidas with a stunning tackle with nearly a 1v1 looming.

Pool D, India 0-0 England in Q1: We are underway. The roar is deafening even across the television screens. The team that finishes top of pool will reach the quarterfinals directly while second and third placed teams will have to go through a crossover phase.

National anthems done, we are all set for the pushback.

England coach Paul Revington: I think the quality of both team’s defences is going to determine the outcome. Both camps will look to keep it tight and the defensive foundation is going to important for attack.

Chief coach Graham Reid: For me the most important thing tonight is to be remain task-focussed given all the distractions. Rest of the game will be handled.

06.45 pm: Hello all and welcome to our live coverage of the Indian team at the FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup 2023.

After a memorable opening night in Rourkela, where home lad Amit Rohidas shined in a 2-0 win against Spain, Harmanpreet Singh and Co are back in Pool D action tonight. They remain in Rourkela where another sold-out crowd is expected at Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium for a big match against England.

With Spain winning against Wales, and winning big, this will be a crucial match for both sides (perhaps more so for England than India) to win. England will face Spain next while India will finish with a match against Wales. Top spot in Pool D will earn a direct spot in quarterfinals and help avoid an extra knockout match.

Stats courtesy: TMS / FIH, Screenshots courtesy: TMS / Disney+Hotstar