HIL: Hockey India League: From champions Bengal Tigers to revamped SG Pipers, a quick guide to all 8 teams

SG Pipers

After a poor season and not using a single outright win beneath Graham Reid, SG Pipers enter the season after an overhaul of their management and squad. The franchise, with Indian goalkeeper PR Sreejesh as Director of Hockey, have named Tim Oudenaller as Head Coach. Captain Jarmanpreet Singh, an Indian defensive mainstay with 142 senior worldwide caps, will lead the backline alongside drag-flick specialist Varun Kumar, who has amassed 142 caps and scored 39 targets.

The staff additionally boasts of veteran Rupinder Pal Singh so as to add additional experience in set-pieces. In objective, the Pipers will depend on Argentine veteran Tomás Santiago. The midfield has been bolstered with the inclusion of Wales’ Jacob Draper, whereas the assault will probably be spearheaded by Argentina’s Tomás Domene, who has scored 41 senior worldwide outside targets. One of many key gamers to look at is younger ahead Dilraj Singh, who emerged as a breakout star on the 2025 Junior World Cup. The staff additionally has the Junior World Cup captain Rohit as a defensive dragflicking possibility.

Indians: Pawan, Rupinder Pal Singh, Varun Kumar, Manjeet, Rohit, Jarmanpreet Singh, Ankit Pal, Raj Kumar Pal, Thokchom Kingson Singh, Shamsher Singh, Aditya Lalage, Dilraj Singh, Sourabh Anand Khushwaha

Abroad: Tomas Santiago (ARG), Bram Van Battum (NED), Gareth Furlong (GBR), Willott Ky (AUS), Jacob Draper (GBR), Tomas Domene (ARG), Roman Duvekot (BEL)

Shrachi Bengal Tigers

Shrachi Bengal Tigers, the defending champions, head into the brand new season with most of their core squad retained from final season. Jugraj Singh, the hat-trick hero from final season’s Remaining will lead the staff this time round, with German Head Coach Valentin Altenburg on the helm. The vastly skilled goalkeeper James Carr will probably be their first line of defence with Vivek Lakra taking part in second fiddle to him. Gauthier Boccard, an Olympic Gold medallist in 2020 and Silver medallist in 2016 with Belgium will probably be trusted to marshal the defensive unit alongside Jugraj Singh, who was additionally the top-scorer final yr.

The 2-time Olympic medallist German duo of Tom Grambusch and Christopher Rühr will anchor the midfield with help from the likes of Sean Findlay, Jaskaran Singh, Affan Yousuf, Pradhan Poovanna Chandura, Atul Deep and Pardeep Singh Sandhu. Final season’s Participant of the Match, Sukhjeet Singh, will probably be spearheading the staff’s assault with Ajinkya Jadhav, Gursewak Singh, and Abhishek. Tigers’ ahead line additionally consists of 14-year-old prodigy Ketan Kushwaha, the youngest participant within the historical past of the event.

Indians: Vivek Lakra, Parmod, Jugraj Singh, Jaskaran Singh, Affan Yousuf, Pradhan Poovanna Chandura, Atul Deep, Pardeep Singh Sandhu, Ajinkya Jadhav, Ketan Kushwaha, Gursewak Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Abhishek

Abroad: James Carr (New Zealand), Tommy Willems (Belgium), Gauthier Boccard (Belgium), Enrique Gonzalez (ESP), Christopher Ruhr (Germany), Tom Grambusch (Germany), Sean Findlay (New Zealand)

JSW Soorma Hockey Membership

Soorma enter the 2026 season with the goal of constructing on its third-place end from the earlier version. Below the steerage of Head Coach Philippe Goldberg and mentor Sardar Singh, the staff has retained a robust management core that emphasises self-discipline and circle dominance. Main the aspect is the world’s premier drag-flicker, Harmanpreet Singh, who not too long ago accomplished a landmark 250 worldwide caps. Guarding the objective will probably be Belgian legend Vincent Vanasch, a three-time FIH Goalkeeper of the 12 months with over 270 worldwide appearances.

The defensive unit is additional strengthened by Australian powerhouse Jeremy Hayward, who brings greater than 230 caps and 121 targets to the backline. Midfield management will probably be anchored by Belgium’s Victor Wegnez, a former European Participant of the Match, alongside India’s Vivek Sagar Prasad. In assault, Soorma will financial institution on the expertise of Akashdeep Singh, traded from UP Rudras, and the tempo of South African ahead Dayaan Cassiem.

Indians: Mohith HS, Gurinder Singh, Pradip Mandal, Sukhvinder, Harmanpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Jeet Pal, Akashdeep Singh, Prabhjot Singh, Harjeet Singh, Pawan Rajbhar, Maninder Singh, Gurjant Singh

Abroad: Vincent Vanasch (BEL), Nicolas Della Torre (ARG), Jeremy Hayward (AUS), Victor Wegnez (BEL), Nicolas Poncelet (BEL), Nicolas Keenan (ARG), Dayaan Cassiem (RSA)

Ranchi Royals

Ranchi Royals enter the league as the most recent franchise, changing the previous Workforce Gonasika. The staff is led by Manpreet Singh, who not too long ago turned solely the second Indian participant to cross 400 worldwide caps. Below Head Coach Harendra Singh, the Royals have paired Manpreet with Belgium’s Tom Boon, the 2025 FIH Participant of the 12 months, making a midfield partnership able to controlling the tempo of matches.

Defensively, the Royals have strengthened their backline with the additions of Belgian defender Maxime Van Oots and Australia’s Tim Howard, alongside skilled Indian defender Nilam Sanjeep Xess. In assault, the Royals will depend on the ending potential of Mandeep Singh and the tempo and energy of younger ahead Araijeet Singh Hundal.

Indians: Rajak Pankaj Kumar, Suraj Karkera, Purti Ashish Tani, Ravneet Singh, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Anmol Ekka, Amir Ali, Vishnukant Singh, Yashdeep Siwach, Manpreet Singh, Manmeet Singh Rai, Araijeet Singh Hundal, Mandeep Singh

Abroad: Joshua Beltz (AUS), Van Oots Maxime (BEL), Tim Howard (AUS), Jack Waller (GBR), Mustaphaa Cassiem (RSA), Tom Boon (BEL), Sam Lane (NZL)

Accord Tamil Nadu Dragons

Led by captain Amit Rohidas, one of the vital reliable defenders in world hockey, the Dragons boast one of many strongest goalkeeping teams within the league. Eire’s David Harte, a two-time FIH Goalkeeper of the 12 months, is joined by Prince Deep Singh, who impressed in shootouts on the 2025 Junior World Cup. In assault, the Dragons proceed to depend on Australia’s Blake Govers, whose penalty-corner conversion makes him a relentless risk. He’s supported by Mohammed Raheel Mouseen in midfield and Germany’s Paul Kaufmann. Tim White is the pinnacle coach.

Indians: Prince Deep Singh, Anand Lakra, Pruthvi G M, Amit Rohidas, Mohammed Raheel Mouseen, Chandan Yadav, Shesha Gowda, Arun J, Sushil Dhanwar, Adrohit Ekka, Selvaraj Kanagaraj, Selvam Karthi, Uttam Singh

Abroad: David Harte (IRE), Sander de Wijn (NED), Tom Craig (AUS), Blake Govers (AUS), Paul Kaufmann (GER), Thomas Sorsby (GBR), Nathan Ephraums (AUS)

Hyderabad Toofans

Hyderabad Toofans will probably be hoping to go one step additional as in comparison with their earlier marketing campaign. The runners-up from final season have Pasha Gademan returning as their head coach, and the staff boasts a younger goalkeeping group with Jean Paul Danneberg and Bikramjit Singh, who was named the Goalkeeper of the Match within the final version. Olympic Gold medallist in 2020, Belgium defender Arthur De Sloover will probably be their pillar in defence with help from the likes of Amandeep Lakra and Devindar Sunil Walmiki, together with younger gamers resembling Sundram Singh Rajawat and Mukul Sharma. Within the coronary heart of the midfield, Nilakanta Sharma provides an abundance of expertise with Olympic Bronze medallist Zachary Wallace additionally of their ranks. Nic Woods and Michel Struthoff add a mixture of expertise and enthusiasm, together with Rajinder Singh, Sumit and Rahim Aakib Sayyed.

With the likes of Commonwealth Video games Gold medallist Jacob Anderson and New Zealand’s Tim Model within the ahead line, the Hyderabad Toofans have sufficient expertise up entrance. Shilanand Lakra will deliver some dynamism to the combination, as will Arshdeep Singh, who was the Upcoming Participant of the Match final season and likewise made his mark with 4 targets on the FIH Hockey Males’s Junior World Cup 2025. They may nevertheless miss out on the targets from Gonzalo Peillat, the star drag flicker out because of harm.

Indians: Bikramjit Singh, Mukul Sharma, Amandeep Lakra, Devindar Walmiki, Sundram Singh Rajawat, Nilakanta Sharma, Sumit Walmiki, Rajinder Singh, Rahim Aakib Sayyed, Shilanand Lakra, Irengbam Rohit Singh, Talwinder Singh, Arshdeep Singh

Abroad: Jean Paul Danneberg (GER), Arthur de Sloover (NED), Zachary Wallace (GBR), Michel Struthoff (GER), Nic Woods (AUS), Tim Model (AUS), Jacob Anderson (AUS)

Vedanta Kalinga Lancers

After scoring lots and conceding lots in a rollercoaster season, Kalinga Lancers will want defensive solidity as they appear to enhance on their final season’s sixth-place end. In objective, the Lancers have choices in India’s No. 1 goalkeeper Krishan B Pathak and Australia’s Jed Snowden. Their defence is headlined by a high-profile Belgian trio, with Co-Captain Arthur Van Doren, Alexander Hendrickx and Antoine Kina bringing elite-level expertise, complemented by Co-Captain Sanjay, whose management and dragflicking potential stay central to the staff’s plans. Gamers resembling Sunil PB, Pratap Lakra and Rohit Kullu add additional solidity to the backline. The midfield options Australia’s younger duo of Liam Henderson and Craig Marias supported by India’s Rabichandra Singh Moirangthem, Amit Kumar Toppo and Rosan Kujur. Up entrance, the Lancers boast a dynamic attacking unit that includes a few of India’s best attackers in Dilpreet Singh, Boby Singh Dhami, Angad Bir Singh and Gursahibjit Singh joined by Australia’s Cooper Burns.

Indians: Krishan B Pathak, Sunil PB, Pratap Lakra, Rohit Kullu, Sanjay, Rabichandra Singh Moirangthem, Amit Kumar Toppo, Rosan Kujur, Gursahibjit Singh, Angad Bir Singh, Deepak Pradhan, Dilpreet Singh, Boby Singh Dhami

Abroad: Jed Snowden (AUS), Antoine Kina (BEL), Arthur Van Doren (BEL), Alexander Hendrickx (BEL), Craig Marais (AUS), Liam Henderson (AUS), Cooper Burns (AUS)

HIL Governing Council

Forward of the public sale, the HIL Governing Council took over operations from the UP Rudras franchise. Hardik Singh will proceed to steer the staff, with Vikram Pillay named head coach. James Mazarelo of England and Prashant Kumar Chauhan are their goalkeeping optins, whereas the defensive unit will probably be spearheaded by seasoned campaigners resembling Surender Kumar with 178 worldwide caps and Kane Russell with over 200 senior caps for New Zealand. James Albery of Nice Britain and India’s Prasant Barla, Jasjit Singh Kular, Mohammad Harris and Talem Priyobarta add additional depth to the backline.

In midfield, Captain Hardik Singh will anchor the unit alongside Manmeet Singh who not too long ago scored six targets within the FIH Hockey Males’s Junior World Cup on dwelling soil. Rahul Yadav and Eire’s skilled midfielder Daragh Walsh will be part of them in the midst of the park. The attacking line-up consists of confirmed performers resembling Lalit Kumar Upadhyay and British ahead Sam Ward who’ve scored 67 and 216 senior worldwide targets respectively. Gurjot Singh, Sudeep Chirmako, Ajeet Yadav, Belgium’s Tanguy Cosyns and New Zealand’s Simon Yorston will add additional firepower.

Indians: Prashant Kumar Chauhan, Jasjit Singh Kular, Mohammad Haris, Surender Kumar, Prasant Barla, Talem Priyobarta, Hardik Singh, Manmeet Singh, Rahul Yadav, Ajeet Yadav, Sudeep Chirmako, Gurjot Singh, Lalit Upadhyay

Abroad: James Mazarelo (GBR), James Albery (GBR), Kane Russell (NZL), Daragh Walsh (IRE), Simon Yorston (NZL), Sam Ward (GBR), Tanguy Cosyns (BEL)

The place to look at Hockey India League?

All matches of the Hockey India League will probably be broadcast stay on Sony Sports activities Ten 1, Sony Sports activities Ten 3 and DD Sports activities. The matches may also be live-streamed on Waves and the Hockey India League YouTube channel.

What about tickets for Hockey India League?

Tickets for HIL throughout the venues are free and obtainable on Ticket Genie portal.