On Wednesday, skipper Harmanpreet Singh and former captain Manpreet Singh were reinstated to the India team for the European segment of the FIH Pro League.
Event Context
In June, the 24-member team will compete in four matches each in Rotterdam and London. They will face the defending champions and world No. 1, the Netherlands, as well as world champions Germany, with two matches scheduled against each team in Rotterdam. Additionally, they will take on England and Pakistan with two matches each in London.
The skilled drag-flicker is set to make a return for these crucial matches ahead of India’s significant upcoming events: the World Cup in August and the Asian Games in September-October.
The squad also welcomes back midfielder Nilakanta Sharma and forwards Selvam Karthi, Sukhjeet Singh, and Dilpreet Singh, who had been previously omitted from the lineup earlier this year due to disciplinary issues.
Chief coach Craig Fulton commented, “Training has been progressing well, and the team is in excellent form. The FIH Pro League fixtures in the Netherlands and England will provide the rigorous challenges we need to assess our preparations for the World Cup. We are eager to embrace this opportunity.”
Player Focus
Notable omissions from the squad include midfielder Manmeet Singh and forward Angad Bir Singh. Additionally, defender Poovanna Chandura Boby, along with midfielder Vishnu Kant Singh and forwards Araijeet Singh Hundal and Maninder Singh, have been transferred to the standby list.
India’s main goalkeeper, Krishan Bahadur Pathak, who was previously dropped and has not played this year, is among the five standby players. In his absence, Mohith HS and Suraj Karkera have been selected as the primary goalkeepers.
Goalkeepers: Mohith HS, Suraj Karkera
Defenders: Harmanpreet Singh (captain), Amit Rohidas, Sumit, Sanjay, Yashdeep Siwach, Amandeep Lakra, Jarmanpreet Singh, Jugraj Singh
Midfielders: Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh, Rajinder Singh, Raj Kumar Pal, Nilakanta Sharma, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Rabichandra Singh Moirangthem
Forwards: Mandeep Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Abhishek, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Dilpreet Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Selvam Karthi
Team Analysis
Harmanpreet, who recently participated in the Rourkela segment of the prestigious nine-team tournament, took a hiatus from traveling to Hobart. His absence was due to the arrival of his second child, which kept him away from India’s matches against Australia and Spain.
Manpreet, boasting an impressive 411 international caps, is just one match away from setting a new record for the most appearances by an Indian player. This record is currently held by Dilip Tirkey, a former captain of India and the current president of Hockey India. The two-time Olympic bronze medalist is poised to break Tirkey’s longstanding achievement.
Match Outlook
Manpreet makes his comeback, stepping onto the field for the first time since December 2025. While Hockey India (HI) and the 33-year-old midfielder have stated that his absence during the Rourkela and Hobart matches was a result of rest, it was reportedly linked to a disciplinary matter. The experienced player was omitted from the squad following an incident during the South Africa tour in December.
The Indian team will head to Brussels for training and a friendly match from June 7 to 9. Following this, they will travel to Rotterdam where they are set to compete against Germany and the Netherlands from June 14 to 21. The squad will then continue to London for matches against Pakistan and England from June 23 to 28.
