India suffered a humiliating 4-0 loss against defending champions Australia in their final group league encounter of the FIH Men's Hockey World Cup in The Hague, Netherlands on Monday.
Asserting their strength, Australia built up a four-goal lead in the initial 22 minutes, before the Indian managed to re-group themselves and put up a stronger defence thereby denying the fancied rivals, a chance of scoring any more goals.
Kieran Govers opened the scoring with a field goal in the 27th minute. It was followed by three penalty corner strikers - two by Chris Ciriello and one by Jeremy Hayward. Australia topped Group A with maximum 15 points from five successive victories.
The Aussies players are on course to have another crack at the title as a present to their coach Ric Charlesworth, for whom this will be the last World Cup as he retires, later this year.
India finished their five pool matches with four points, gained from a victory over Malaysia and a draw with Spain.