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The second edition of the Hockey India League (HIL) will start from 25th January. Ranchi Rhinos won the inaugural edition, beating Delhi Waveriders in the final. The second season will witness six teams participating; the new team inducted in this edition is Kalinga Lancers.
The HIL is one of the top domestic hockey leagues in India, where Indian players rub shoulders alongside the biggest foreign stars.
Here is the list of Indian players to watch out for from each team in this year’s Hockey India League edition:
Ranchi Rhinos
Manpreet Singh - The Jalandhar-born Manpreet Singh is the captain of the junior Indian hockey team. He is also a member of the senior national team. In the last edition of Hockey India League (HIL), the midfielder played a crucial role in his team’s triumph – he scored the winning goal in the final.
Mandeep Singh - This young forward from Punjab is one of the most promising stars in Indian hockey right now. Mandeep’s biggest claim to fame is being the second highest scorer of the tournament in last year’s HIL. His clinical finishing helped his side Ranchi Rhinos to clinch their maiden title.
Delhi Waveriders
Delhi Waveriders- runner-up in the inaugural edition
Sardara Singh - Captain of the Indian national team, Sardara will likely play a crucial role yet again in this edition of HIL. This talismanic half-back was awarded the Player of the Tournament award last year. He is also the captain of the Delhi Waveriders team.
Rupinder Pal Singh - This talented defender is one of the most promising talents in Indian hockey at the moment. Rupinder was the highest scorer in last year’s Sultan Azlan Shah Tournament. He scored 7 goals in last year’s HIL.
Uttar Pradesh Wizards
Uttar Pradesh Wizards finished third
V. R. Raghunath - Captain of the Uttar Pradesh Wizards side, V. R. Raghunath is known as the best drag flicker of the team. He has been a regular member of the Indian hockey team since 2005. Raghunath lead his team to a third place finish in the inaugural HIL last year.
S. K. Uthappa - A clinical finisher, S. K. Uthappa is a regular member of the national team. Uthappa has played 21 international matches, scoring 10 goals. He is known for his incredible body feint and is deadly when pitted against opposition defenders. He is a key force in the Uttar Pradesh Wizards team.
Mumbai Magicians
Mumbai Magicians
P. R. Sreejesh - Sreejesh is the goal-keeper of the Indian hockey team. He was the custodian of the national team in the 2010 Hockey World Cup. The ace goal-keeper played an important role in the first Asian Champions Trophy (2011), in which India defeated Pakistan 4-2 in the final. His two crucial saves in the penalty shoot-out helped India clinch the title. Sreejesh was also a member of the team at the 2012 London Olympics.
Gurjinder Singh - Gurjinder Singh was named the Player of the Tournament in the 2012 World Series Hockey tournament, and he broke into the national team last year. A talented defender, Gurjinder may prove handy for the Mumbai Magicians team.
Kalinga Lancers
Kalinga Lancers- The newly inducted team
Prabodh Tirkey - Prabodh Tirkey is a former captain of the Indian national team. Tirkey has played 161 international games for the country. He is also the captain of the newly formed HIL team Kalinga Lancers. Tirkey is the brother of ex-Indian captain Ignace Tirkey.
Vikram Kanth - This 26-year-old midfielder has played 70 international matches for India. He made his debut for the national team back in 2006. A talented player, Kanth was a recipient of the Ekalavya award in 2009 from the Karnataka Government. Kalinga Lancers roped him in for $8,000 in the auction.
Jaypee Punjab Warriors
Punjab Warriors
Sandeep Singh - Sandeep Singh played for Mumbai Magicians in the last edition of HIL, and was transferred to Punjab Warriors in this year’s transfer window. He scored 11 goals last season and was the top scorer of the tournament. Now a veteran in the national team, Sandeep made his debut in 2004. He is a talented and experienced full-back. He is also known as a penalty corner specialist.
S. V. Sunil - S. V. Sunil made his international debut in 2007. He had represented India in the 2012 London Olympics. He scored four goals last season in the HIL in 13 matches.
