Hockey: India have named a World Cup squad with a good mix of youth and experience

Hockey India has named a 20-member national squad for the upcoming FIH Men’s Hockey World Championship, featuring a good balance of international experience and emerging young talent. The World Cup will be played in Belgium and the Netherlands from August 15 to 30.

Ace defender and spinner Harmanpreet Singh will lead the team, while experienced midfielder Manpreet Singh, India’s most capped player, brings crucial maturity to the midfield for the big tournament.

Speaking about the team selection, head coach Craig Fulton emphasized that form and tactical execution were key metrics for inclusion.

“This is a well-balanced team – the right mix of tournament experience and well-rounded youngsters who have earned their place through performance, not reputation,” Fulton said.

“Press, counter, performance is not just our tactical identity – it’s the way this group trains and thinks together every day. We don’t want to outdo each other – one play at a time, that’s all the mentality we take into every game.”

Mohith HS and Suraj Karkera will share the goalkeeping duties. Harmanpreet heads a solid defensive line-up that includes Jarmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, Sanjay, Sumit and Yashdeep Siwach.

In midfield, the experienced trio of Manpreet, Hardik Singh and Vivek Sagar Prasad are joined by Nilakanta Sharma and promising youngsters Rajinder Singh and Aditya Arjun Lalage. The forward line will include Mandeep Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh and Shilanand Lakra.

Four players from the recent 24-man FIH Pro League squad, defender Amandeep Lakra, midfielders Raj Kumar Pal and Rabichandra Singh Moirangthem and forward Selvam Karthi, were left out.

CAN INDIA END THE LONG WAIT?

The team will be eager to go over a a difficult FIH Pro League campaign last month, where India finished eighth among nine teams with four wins, five draws and seven defeats.

Improving on India’s recent World Cup trajectory remains the primary objective. India finished ninth on home soil in the 2023 edition and have not secured a World Cup medal since winning gold in Kuala Lumpur in 1975 – after silver in Amsterdam 1973 and bronze in Barcelona 1971.

India, who are drawn in Pool D along with England, Wales and arch-rivals Pakistan, will play all their matches at the pool stage in Amstelveen, Netherlands. They open their campaign against Wales on August 15, before taking on England on August 17 and taking on Pakistan on August 19 in one of the most anticipated games of the group stage.

On the milestone ahead, Fulton added, “Fifty years since 1975, this group has a chance to write its own chapter in Indian hockey history and we are really excited about it.”

INDIAN SQUAD FOR HOCKEY WORLD CUP 2026

Goalkeepers: Mohith HS, Suraj Karkera.

Defenders: Jarmanpreet Singh, Harmanpreet Singh (c), Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, Sanjay, Sumit, Yashdeep Siwach.

Midfielders: Rajinder Singh, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh, Nilakanta Sharma, Vivek Sagar Prasad.

Forward: Dilpreet Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Sukhjeet Singh, Mandeep Singh, Abhishek.

– The end

Issued by:

Akshay Ramesh

Published on:

Jul 21, 2026 1:27 PM IST