Kookaburras suffer shootout loss to India

Australia's bid to bank a second FIH Pro League victory over India within 24 hours came up short as they were beaten in a penalty shootout after a 2-2 draw in Bhubaneswar.

The Kookaburras, who narrowly held on for a 4-3 victory on Friday, started well in Saturday's match at the Kalinga Stadium but were denied an early goal when Lachlan Sharp's effort was ruled out for obstruction on India goalkeeper Sreejesh Parattu.

The visitors did eventually break the deadlock midway through the second quarter when a solid strike from Trent Mitton, after good work from Matt Dawson, beat Sreejesh at his near post.

But two quickfire penalty corner goals in three minutes, via Rupinder Singh and Harmanpreet Singh, put India on top.

The Kookaburras then saw Jeremy Hayward's drag flick ruled out by an umpire referral while Tim Brand fired wide, before Aran Zalewski blasted home for a deserved equaliser to make it 2-2 in the final quarter.

It meant penalties were needed to decide the result with Harmanpreet, Vivek, Sagar Prasad and Lalit Upadhyay netting for India and only Daniel Beale replying for the tourists.

Despite the setback, the result was enough for the Kookaburras to leapfrog above India into third place on the Pro League standings.

Australia will now return to Perth to prepare for the visit of Argentina on March 6 and 7, with Kookaburras skipper Eddie Ockenden feeling upbeat.

"India are always a great opponent. We are trying to learn a lot about ourselves, and these two games have been very beneficial for us," he said.

"Playing two games against quality opposition also makes us a lot better."