Pro League matches against Spain will be mock test for us ahead of World Cup: PR Sreejesh

India are set to host the men's World Cup from January 13 to 29 next year. But before the marquee event, India will host world No.8 Spain on October 30 and November 6 in their first tie of the upcoming FIH Pro League 2022-23 at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar. "FIH Hockey Pro League is the best platform for us because we get to play against some of the top teams.

The upcoming matches at home will be like a mock test for us, it will help us for the real challenge which we will face in January 2023," Sreejesh said in a Hockey India release. "It will also help us in providing young players the experience of playing high-level hockey. So, it's a great opportunity for us as it will sort of help us set the tempo for the World Cup." India are placed in a tricky Pool D in next year's World Cup and Srejeesh expects a tough competition from their opponents in the preliminary stage.

World No.5 India are placed alongside England (world No. 6), Spain (world No.8) and Wales in the World Cup. The Indians drew 4-4 against England and beat Wales 4-1 en route to a silver medal-winning effort in this year's Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

"It is an interesting pool. England, Spain and Wales all three are really good teams. Having played England and Wales at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games recently, I feel it will be a tough competition," Sreejesh said.

"But, we don't need to think about it right now. At present, it's all about us. We are going step-by-step and working on our game at the national camp.