Indian Men's Hockey team announced for FIH Pro League 2024, Harmanpreet gets command

The 24-member Indian Men's Hockey team has been announced for the FIH Pro League matches to be held in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela from 10 to 25 February.

Also Read: Hockey India announces 24-member Indian women's squad for FIH Pro League 2023-24

Harmanpreet Singh has been given the command of the Indian men's hockey team. While midfielder Hardik Singh will be the vice-captain. Bhubaneswar phase will start from 10th February and will continue till 16th February while Rourkela phase will be from 19th to 25th February.

The Indian Men's Hockey team will play Ireland, Netherlands, Spain and Australia twice. The first match will be against Spain on 10 February. The Indian team is missing striker Boby Singh Dhami and goalkeeper Pawan who were part of the team on the South Africa tour.

At the same time, goalkeeping will be handled by PR Sreejesh and Krishan Bahadur Pathak. The defense will consist of Harmanpreet Singh, Amit Rohidas, Jarmanpreet Singh, Varun Kumar, Sumit, Sanjay, Jugraj Singh and Vishnukant Singh. The midfield will have Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad, Shamsher Singh, Rajkumar Pal, Nilakanta Sharma and Rabichandra Singh Moirangthem.

The forward line will consist of experienced Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, Mandeep Singh, Gurjant Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Abhishek, Akashdeep Singh and Araijeet Singh Hundal.

"We've carefully selected a well-balanced squad, blending seasoned expertise with the vigour of youth. Our goal is to forge a cohesive unit capable of competing at the highest level."  Chief Coach Craig Fulton said.

"The FIH Pro League serves as an ideal platform to refine our strategies and measure our skills against top-tier opponents. The league's significance is paramount, with champions earning a coveted spot in the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026. Additionally, it offers a valuable opportunity to pinpoint areas for enhancement, playing a pivotal role in our preparations for the Paris Olympics. We hold the belief that this exposure will elevate our performance and equip us to confront the impending challenges with confidence." Fulton added.

Indian Men's Hockey team:

Goalkeepers

• Sreejesh Parattu Raveendran

Defenders

• Jarmanpreet Singh

 Midfielders

• Hardik Singh (VC)

Forwards

• Lalit Kumar Upadhyay