For the first time since 2019, the Indian men's hockey team will participate in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, with the 31st edition of the tournament featuring six teams. Five-time champions India take on South Korea in the opening match of the competition on Sunday (November 23) at the Azlan Shah Stadium in Ipoh, Malaysia.Belgium, New Zealand and Canada are the other teams in the competition, in addition to the hosts Malaysia. The league phase of the annual invitational tournament will be played on a single round-robin format, with the top two sides advancing to the final.A relatively young and inexperienced Indian side, under the tutelage of Craig Fulton, will test their mettle ahead of a crucial 2026 season, which includes the Asian Games and the FIH World Cup.Goalkeeper Mohith HS is being blooded into the international setup for the tournament. The Karnataka lad will guard the Indian citadel along with Pawan, who made his senior debut in 2021 but hasn't played too many tournaments since.Captain Sanjay will man the backlines alongside Amit Rohidas, who is by far the seniormost member of the Indian side at Ipoh. Poovanna Chandura Boby and Nilam Sanjeep Xess will also perform defensive duties.Additionally, Jugraj Singh and Sanjay will be expected to display their prowess from the top of the circle while aiding their counterparts in defence.Rajinder Singh, Mohammed Raheel Mouseen, and Rabichandra Singh Moirangthem will be looking to impress in the midfield in the company of more seasoned campaigners like Vivek Sagar Prasad, Nilakanta Sharma and Raj Kumar Pal.Sukhjeet Singh, Abhishek and Dilpreet Singh will provide the firepower up front and will look to combine effectively with Shilanand Lakra, Selvam Karthi and Aditya Lalage.The Indians were last crowned champions in 2010, having been declared joint winners with South Korea following an abandoned final. The Men in Blue haven't won the tournament outright since 2009.Korea beat India in a shootout 4-2 (1-1) in the final of the 2019 edition of the Azlan Shah Cup.Interestingly, defending champions Japan and 2024 runners-up Pakistan have not received invitations for the tournament.India vs Korea, Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025, Match detailsMatch Details: India vs Korea, League Match, Azlan Shah Cup 2025Date & Time: Sunday, November 23, 2025, 1:30 PM ISTVenue: Ipoh, MalaysiaIndia vs Korea: Azlan Shah Cup PredictionDespite the vast inexperience of the side, the Indian forward line comprising the dangerous Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh and Dilpreet Singh is capable of upsetting the best defensive line-ups in the business. If Jugraj Singh strikes form with his drag-flicks, Craig Fulton's chargers could well manufacture a goalfest. However, if the Koreans get an early goal and defend in numbers, the Indians will need to be innovative up front.Score Prediction: India 3 - 1 KoreaWhere to watch Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025 matches in India?The Azlan Shah Cup 2025 will be livestreamed on the Fancode app and website in India.