India Vs Malaysia Highlights, Hockey Asia Cup 2025 Super 4s: Manpreet , Vivek Lead IND To 4-1 Win Over MAS

We’re back with another live blog, and this one’s a cracker, India vs Malaysia in the Hockey Asia Cup 2025! Stick around as we bring you every twist and turn from Rajgir. Pushback is at 7:30 PM IST, so grab your spot and stay tuned for all the live action.

When is the India Vs Malaysia, Hockey Asia Cup 2025 match being played?

The India Vs Malaysia, Hockey Asia Cup 2025 match will be played on Thursday, 4 September 2025, at 7:30 PM IST.

Where to watch the India Vs Malaysia, Hockey Asia Cup 2025 match live online in India?

The India Vs Malaysia, Hockey Asia Cup 2025 match will be live-streamed on the Sony LIV app and website in India.

Where to watch the India Vs Malaysia, Hockey Asia Cup 2025 match live broadcast in India?

The India Vs Malaysia, Hockey Asia Cup 2025 match will be televised live on the Sony TEN 2 and Sony TEN 2 HD channels in India.

India and Malaysia clash in a crucial Super 4s tie at the Asia Cup Hockey 2025 in Rajgir on Thursday (September 4), with both sides unbeaten so far. Three-time champions India edged past China and Japan before thrashing Kazakhstan 15-0, while Malaysia, last edition’s runners-up, beat Bangladesh and stunned South Korea before routing Chinese Taipei 15-0. In the Super 4s, India drew with Korea, and Malaysia eased past China, setting the stage for a high-voltage battle tonight.

India and Malaysia have played each other 126 times across competitions. India lead Malaysia 88-17 with 21 draws. In the Asia Cup, India have won 17 of their 24 meetings with Malaysia, losing only three matches and drawing four.

India boast a strong Asia Cup tournament history, winning the continental title three times: in 2003, 2007, and 2017. They also made multiple semi-final and final appearances.

Malaysia's best Asia Cup performance was finishing as runners-up twice in 2017 and 2022. In fact, the 2017 final was the last meeting between India and Malaysia at the Asia Cup, which India won 2-1 thanks to two early goals.

Rajgir’s weather is not looking great, and like many other parts of India, it has been raining hard with the entire turf now covered in water. At 7:00 PM, it’s 31°C but feels closer to 37° with 75% humidity, strong 25 km/h wind gusts, and thick cloud cover choking the sky. With the Korea vs China match still unfinished, India vs Malaysia is almost certain to be delayed, just as we saw with the nearly hour-long wait yesterday.

The national anthems begin, Malaysia’s first, their players standing tall in line, eyes fixed ahead. Then comes India’s turn, and the stadium swells with sound. Harmanpreet, on his 250th, stands firm with his teammates, every note hitting deeper. A proper goosebumps moment before the first whistle.

Quarter 1 begins! Harmanpreet Singh, celebrating his 250th game for India, takes charge as the hosts settle into possession right from the start. Barely a minute on the clock, it stays India 0-0 Malaysia, but there’s already a sense that both sides are up for it.

What just happened! Malaysia have struck inside the very first minute, leading 1-0 already. Shafiq Hassan charged in from the 23-metre line, brushed Sanjay aside and blasted a tomahawk into the far corner, leaving Pathak rooted. A dream start for Malaysia and a shock for India.

India go hunting for an instant reply, Harmanpreet Singh leading the charge as they press high. The Malaysian defence, though, stands tall and keeps the hosts out in the 3rd minute.

India finally carve out their first opening, still trailing 0-1 in the 7th minute. Hardik sprays a lovely aerial ball from left to right, picking out Dilpreet, who slides it into Raj Kumar inside the circle. The shot comes off the stick awkwardly, though, and drifts wide. A missed chance to level things up.

India keep pressing, this time through Jarman who slaps one into the circle for Dilpreet. His touch takes it goalward but the ball flies over the bar. They earn a long corner from it, yet the chance fizzles out without troubling Malaysia.

India are yet to find their spark in attack. No clear chances created from open play and not a single set piece earned, leaving Malaysia largely untroubled so far.

Quarter 1 comes to a close, and it is far from the start India would have wanted. Trailing to that early Malaysian strike, the hosts have struggled to find rhythm or create anything meaningful going forward.

Let’s see how the second quarter unfolds.

What just a turnaround! India keep the pressure on with a string of penalty corners, and in the 16th minute, they are level, 1-1 against Malaysia. Harmanpreet’s fierce dragflick is brilliantly saved by Othman, but the rebound lands perfectly for Manpreet, who tucks it into the bottom corner.

India respond to Malaysia’s first-minute strike with a big moment from their most experienced player, scoring right at the start of the second quarter and bringing the game back on terms.

And just like that, India snatch the lead! Only two minutes after Manpreet’s equaliser, Sukhjeet pounces in the 19th minute to make it 2-1. Shilanand dances through the circle, glides past the defence, and threads a cheeky little pass to Sukhjeet, who doesn’t miss from close range. The crowd’s on their feet, and India are suddenly in control.

Just two minutes after putting India ahead, Sukhjeet finds himself in trouble, shown a green card for a reckless challenge on Faris. The lead comes with a warning, India will need to keep their cool.

Can you believe that just a few minutes ago this team was trailing? Now the men in blue have completely turned things around! Shilanand Lakra fires India into a 3-1 lead with a stunning finish. The goal comes from a perfect team move, Sanjay slices through the lines to find Hardik, who threads a precise pass to Dilpreet near the 23-metre line.

Dilpreet sweeps a low ball towards goal, and Shilanand dives in to deflect it past Othman. India’s forwards are finally clicking as a unit, and the comeback is in full swing.

India have staged an impressive comeback after conceding an early goal. The men in blue looked flat in the opening quarter, but the second quarter belonged entirely to them. Shilanand Lakra, Sukhjeet Singh, and Manpreet Singh combined brilliantly to turn the game around, with slick passing and sharp finishing putting India 3-1 up.

Malaysia have barely managed a chance in the last quarter, kept at bay by India’s organised defence and relentless pressing. The forwards finally clicked as a unit, showing the kind of cohesion India will want to carry through the rest of the match.

India will eye more goals in second half.

The third quarter is underway at the Bihar Sports University Hockey Stadium in Rajgir, with India holding a 3-1 lead. The men in blue look fired up after their strong second quarter, while Malaysia will be desperate to mount a comeback.

Could this be Malaysia’s moment to strike back? In the 32nd minute, a powerful dragflick heads for the top corner, but Pathak is there! With a lightning-quick reaction, he flings his right arm and stick high to his right, diverting the ball and keeping India’s two-goal lead intact.

A huge save, especially after a fairly quiet tournament so far for the keeper.

India strike once more, and it’s Vivek Sagar Prasad who finds the back of the net.

It all begins with a penalty corner from Jugraj that rattles the post and rolls away from the circle. Sumit keeps the momentum going, sending Manpreet down the right flank. His precise pass across the goal allows Vivek to calmly push it home, sending the Indian team and fans into a frenzy. A brilliant comeback from India.

The fourth quarter is underway! India head into the final 15 minutes with a comfortable lead, looking to maintain control and close out the match in style.

India come close to another as Jugraj hammers the ball into the circle. Abhishek stretches out his stick and deflects it wide, but a moment of hesitation, had he left it, Mandeep was waiting just a yard out for an easy tap-in. A near miss for the hosts in the 51st minute.

Being a prodigy is never easy. You are constantly punching above your weight to rise through the ranks. Ask Vivek Sagar Prasad, India's two-time Olympic medallist aged 24. Many found issue with the charismatic Indian hockey midfielder's height and slender build when he was an up-and-coming talent. But the unfazed youngster chose to let his stick do the talking.

"People said you need to have a certain height and physique to play for India. Well, I cannot change how God made me beyond a point. I can only work on my game skills, so I focused on that," Vivek tells Outlook.

Full Interview

That’s a wrap from Rajgir! India take a commanding 4-1 win over Malaysia, Harmanpreet Singh marks his 250th cap, and the men in blue march on in the Super 4s. We’ll be back with another live blog next time, until then, bye bye.