As the Men’s Hockey India League (HIL) gears up for the 2026 season, previous finalists Shrachi Bengal Tigers and Hyderabad Toofans are preparing to kick off their campaigns with confidence, featuring a blend of experienced players and emerging talent.
Shrachi Bengal Tigers’ Campaign Ahead
Shrachi Bengal Tigers, the reigning champions, are set to begin the new season with most of their core team from last year intact. Jugraj Singh, who scored a hat-trick in the previous season’s final, will captain the team, under the guidance of German Head Coach Valentin Altenburg.
The Tigers’ HIL 2025-26 campaign opens on January 4 against Soorma Hockey Club in Chennai. Veteran goalkeeper James Carr will serve as the main defender, supported by Vivek Lakra.
Leading the defensive unit is Gauthier Boccard, an Olympic gold medallist in 2020 and silver medallist in 2016 with Belgium. Jugraj Singh, the top scorer from last season’s HIL, will also bolster the defense, along with Enrique Gonzalez De Castejon, Tommy Willems, and Parmod.
In midfield, the German duo of Tom Grambusch and Christopher Rühr, both two-time Olympic medallists, will guide the play, with support from Sean Findlay, Jaskaran Singh, Affan Yousuf, Pradhan Poovanna Chandura, Atul Deep, and Pardeep Singh Sandhu.
Leading the attacking front is last season’s Player of the Tournament, Sukhjeet Singh, partnered by Ajinkya Jadhav, Gursewak Singh, and Abhishek. The forward line also features 14-year-old prodigy Ketan Kushwaha, marking him as the tournament’s youngest player ever.
Hyderabad Toofans Eye Improvement
Hyderabad Toofans are eager to better their previous performance. As last season’s runners-up, they will kick off the new season on January 3 against the Tamil Nadu Dragons in Chennai. Under head coach Pasha Gademan, the team boasts a young goalkeeping lineup featuring Jean Paul Danneberg and Bikramjit Singh, who was awarded the Goalkeeper of the Tournament in the last men’s edition of HIL.
The defensive pillar for the Toofans is Olympic gold medallist Arthur De Sloover from Belgium, backed by players such as Amandeep Lakra, Devindar Sunil Walmiki, along with younger talents Sundram Singh Rajawat and Mukul Sharma.
In midfield, Nilakanta Sharma provides extensive experience, while Olympic bronze medallist Zachary Wallace adds further depth. Nic Woods and Michel Struthoff bring a mix of experience and energy, complemented by Rajinder Singh, Sumit, and Rahim Aakib Sayyed.
With Commonwealth Games gold medallist Jacob Anderson and New Zealand’s Tim Brand leading the forward line, Hyderabad Toofans have ample experience upfront. Shilanand Lakra joins the attack, along with Arshdeep Singh, recognized as the Upcoming Player of the Tournament last season, having netted four goals at the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup 2025.
Squads Overview
Shrachi Bengal Tigers Squad:
- Vivek Lakra
- James Carr (New Zealand)
- Tommy Willems (Belgium)
- Gauthier Boccard (Belgium)
- Parmod
- Enrique Gonzalez De Castejon
- Jugraj Singh (Captain)
- Christopher Ruhr (Germany)
- Tom Grambusch (Germany)
- Sean Findlay (New Zealand)
- Jaskaran Singh
- Affan Yousuf
- Pradhan Poovanna Chandura
- Atul Deep
- Pardeep Singh Sandhu
- Ajinkya Jadhav
- Ketan Kushwaha
- Gursewak Singh
- Sukhjeet Singh
- Abhishek
Hyderabad Toofans Squad:
- Jean Paul Danneberg (Germany)
- Bikramjit Singh
- Mukul Sharma
- Amandeep Lakra
- Devindar Sunil Walmiki
- Arthur De Sloover (Belgium)
- Sundram Singh Rajawat
- Nilakanta Sharma
- Sumit
- Zachary Wallace (Great Britain)
- Rajinder Singh
- Michel Struthoff (Germany)
- Nic Woods (New Zealand)
- Rahim Aakib Sayyed
- Tim Brand (New Zealand)
- Shilanand Lakra
- Irengbam Rohit Singh
- Talwinder Singh
- Jacob Anderson (New Zealand)
- Arshdeep Singh.