Hockey India League review: The hits, the misses and how it can get better
Hockey India League review: The hits, the misses and how it can get better
The much-anticipated return of the Hockey India League (HIL) lived up to expectations, providing a crucial platform for emerging talent. New stars made their mark, fresh faces found an opportunity to shine, and young players tested themselves alongside some of the world’s best.
Under the watchful eye of India coach Craig Fulton, Jugraj Singh enjoyed a career-defining tournament, showcasing his powerful drag flicks, particularly in the final. Throughout the competition, Jugraj gained invaluable insights from India’s premier drag-flicking exponent, Rupinder Pal Singh.
Fulton dubbed the HIL “Jugi’s Olympics,” hoping that the Rarh Bengal Tigers defender would now step up as a strong alternative to skipper Harmanpreet Singh in short-corner situations.
Before the tournament push-back, the Tigers were considered the weakest team due to their squad’s age and profile. They did not top the charts for goals scored, goals conceded, circle penetrations, or penalty corner conversion rates. However, they defied expectations, finishing at the top of the group stage after 10 matches and ultimately triumphing over the Hyderabad Toofans — arguably the strongest team — in the final.
“Our players were quite old, so most teams underrated us as the lowest-ranked side. It was all about working on the mental side of the game and behaving like Tigers. I told the players a lion has only one mentality: to go for the kill,” said a proud Deepak Thakur, the Tigers’ assistant coach.
The Toofans had remained unbeaten in regulation time across eight matches before the final but were undone by a hat-trick from Jugraj, who finished as the tournament’s top scorer with 12 goals.
One of the biggest takeaways from HIL was the emergence of young talent. The Toofans’ reliance on their youthful core paid dividends. Twenty-two-year-old defender Amandeep Lakra flourished under the mentorship of Gonzalo Peillat, scoring in both the semifinal and final to finish the campaign with five goals.
Lakra, who grew up near the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, thrilled the local crowd, with his family in attendance. Meanwhile, the standout find of the tournament was Toofans’ dynamic forward Arshdeep Singh. His dazzling skills, direct play, and three-goal tally earned him a maiden call-up to the senior national team for the upcoming FIH Pro League.
The HIL also shone a spotlight on several domestic players who have long been toiling away, such as Mohammed Raheel and Affan Yousuf. Fulton, watching from the ‘Tower’ behind the goal, would have undoubtedly taken note of more names for his watchlist.
All eight teams were led by overseas head coaches, bringing coaching expertise from Europe and Australia. This exposure provided domestic players — many without international experience — the opportunity to understand different tactical systems and styles of play, a crucial learning curve before making the next step in their careers.
“I think they gain plenty of experience from this. Then, when they go away, they need to reflect on what they’ve learned, talk to senior players and coaches, and absorb the lessons that way. They’re exposed to incredible players — what an environment for them to grow in,” said Tigers’ Australian head coach Colin Batch after the final.
Toofans’ head coach, Dutchman Pasha Gademan, highlighted how the HIL helped Indian players develop their tactical awareness. “If I were to go to Europe and build a new team, I’d find players more tactically aware but lacking some of the physical and technical attributes. Here, it’s the opposite. They have the physicality, motivation, and technical skills, but they need to improve their tactical understanding — how to play zonal defence, how to react in different situations, and how to learn from repeated scenarios,” he explained.
The league’s five-foreigner rule may have hindered India’s search for a long-term No. 1 goalkeeper. Several Indian goalkeepers were substituted for penalty strokes and shootouts, with national team regulars Krishan Pathak and Suraj Karkera having to compete with Toby Reynold-Cotterill and Oliver Payne in their respective franchises. However, the presence of experienced goalkeepers like Dominic Dixon and David Harte would have benefited junior team ‘keepers such as Bikramjit Singh (Toofans) and Prince Deep Singh (Tamil Nadu Dragons).
Alongside the Tigers and Toofans, Soorma Hockey Club and Tamil Nadu Dragons reached the semifinals. Soorma, spearheaded by veterans Harmanpreet and Vincent Vanasch, staged an impressive turnaround before falling to the Toofans.
The Dragons, meanwhile, were left ruing missed opportunities. Refereeing errors contributed to their downfall, but they ultimately fell short on the pitch. Despite leading the table for much of the tournament, they had to scramble to finish fourth. The team boasted the highest penalty corner conversion rate but couldn’t provide prolific drag-flicker Jip Janssen with more opportunities in open play.
While all teams were evenly matched, the tournament only truly ignited in its final week, with several group-stage fixtures proving lacklustre. The Vedanta Kalinga Lancers and Delhi SG Pipers provided entertainment with high-scoring games, but their defensive frailties cost them a place in the final four. Meanwhile, Team Gonasika struggled with poor penalty corner execution.
Every night, David Guetta’s ‘Memories’ echoed through the speakers in Rourkela, with Kid Cudi’s line on loop: “It’s getting late, but I don’t mind.” The locals, however, certainly did.
Despite Hockey India offering free tickets for the entire tournament, the 21,000-capacity stadium remained largely empty until the final. Late 8:15 p.m. starts meant many supporters had to leave midway to secure transport home.
Restricting the tournament to just two venues — Rourkela and Ranchi — ensured sustainability, but dwindling attendance at the former cast a shadow over what was otherwise a successful venture for the federation.
