Chennai, 3 January 2026: Hosts Accord Tamil Nadu Dragons begin their Hero Hockey India League 2026 campaign at home when they face Hyderabad Toofans in the tournament opener at Chennai on Saturday night, signalling the start of an intense month-long contest among eight franchises for domestic supremacy.
While the second season of the Women’s Hockey India League is currently in progress, the focus now firmly shifts to the men’s edition, which gets underway at the historic Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium, a venue synonymous with Indian hockey tradition. The return of top-level franchise competition once again underlines the league’s growing stature as India’s premier professional hockey platform.
The Dragons, semifinalists last season, will bank heavily on home support as they look to set the tone early in a league that has rapidly re-established itself after its revival. As hosts, they carry the dual responsibility of igniting local fan interest while also laying down an early marker against a Hyderabad side that reached the final last season.
Accord Tamil Nadu Dragons: Home Push Without Janssen
The Chennai-based franchise will miss Dutch drag-flick specialist Jip Janssen, but the attacking burden is expected to be shared by proven international forwards Blake Govers and Nathan Ephraums. With a core of Indian internationals and promising domestic players, the Dragons’ home fixtures—including key matches against JSW Soorma Hockey Club and SG Pipers—could prove decisive in shaping their push for a top-four finish.
Key player: Young goalkeeper Princedeep Singh remains central to their plans. After an outstanding HIL debut last season, he continues to impress at the junior international level and was instrumental in India’s bronze-medal finish at the Junior World Cup.
League Changes and New Entrants
The Men’s HIL 2026 retains its eight-team format, though the line-up has seen notable changes. Team Gonasika and UP Rudras are no longer part of the competition. Their places have been taken by Ranchi Royals, a new franchise, while HIL GC, operated by Hockey India’s Governing Council, replaces UP Rudras.
Ranchi Royals and Midfield Battles
The Ranchi Royals bring immediate intrigue, led by veteran Manpreet Singh, with Mandeep Singh and Araijeet Singh Hundal adding goal-scoring threat.
Key player: Belgian ace Tom Boon, the FIH Player of the Year 2025, is expected to be one of the league’s most decisive finishers.
Defending Champions Set the Benchmark
The standard, however, remains Shrachi Bengal Tigers, the defending champions. Their title run last season was built on a strong Indian spine complemented by high-impact overseas professionals—a model that has now become the league’s competitive template. With Jugraj Singh taking over the captaincy, the Tigers once again boast depth across defence, midfield control and penalty-corner efficiency.
Key player: Jugraj was last season’s highest scorer and memorably struck a hat-trick in the final.
Competitive Balance at the Core
One of the defining strengths of the Hockey India League continues to be the even distribution of Indian talent across franchises. National team regulars are spread across JSW Soorma Hockey Club, Vedanta Kalinga Lancers, SG Pipers, Ranchi Royals, Hyderabad Toofans, and HIL GC, preventing the concentration of star power and ensuring competitive balance. This structure not only raises match intensity but also gives young Indian players exposure to high-pressure situations alongside world-class internationals.
Format, Venues and What Lies Ahead
The league follows a single round-robin format, with all teams playing each other once. The top four advance to the playoffs, which include Qualifier 1, Eliminator and Qualifier 2, before the final on January 26.
Chennai hosts the opening leg from January 3 to 9, Ranchi takes over from January 11 to 16, and Bhubaneswar stages the remaining league matches, playoffs and the final—adding a symbolic national flavour to the season climax.
As the Dragons take the field tonight, the narrative is clear: home advantage must be converted into early points, champions Bengal Tigers remain the standard to beat, and Indian hockey once again gets a competitive stage blending skill, speed and structure—elements vital for the sport’s sustained growth at the club and national levels.
Format, Venues & Broadcast
All teams play each other once, with the top four advancing to the playoffs. Qualifier 1 sends its winner straight to the final, while the Eliminator and Qualifier 2 decide the second finalist. The final day features a third-place playoff followed by the grand final.
Matches will be played across Chennai (Jan 3–9), Ranchi (Jan 11–16) and Bhubaneswar, which hosts the playoffs and final on January 26. All matches will be broadcast live on Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 3, DD Sports, and streamed on Waves and the HIL YouTube channel.
