The Hockey India League is all set to return to screens following a seven-year-long hiatus. The premier franchise-based competition is slated to commence with the men’s event on December 28 before the inaugural women’s event of the league is held on January 12.
While a total of eight teams will compete in the men’s league, the women’s competition will see four teams in action.
The teams were formed following an intense three-day auction in October with team owners splurging lakhs of rupees to get themselves battle-ready.
With the renewed HIL just days away, we take a look at how the Soorma Hockey Club stacks up ahead of the season:
Soorma Hockey Club Squad
Based out of the northern Indian states of Punjab and Haryana, the Soorma Hockey Club recorded the biggest splurge on a single player in the Hockey India League auction as they roped in the services of India captain Harmanpreet Singh for a massive Rs 78 lakh.
Having Harmanpreet on their side not only gives Soorma Hockey Club a strong local connection but also gives them a rock-solid defender, one of the best drag-flick specialists in the world, and a sound captaincy option.
Add to that the brand value that he brings in, the JSW Sports-backed outfit has a player around whom the team would be built for years to come.
To complement the Indian superstar at the backline, Soorma Hockey Club has also brought in Australia’s Jeremy Hayward for Rs 42 lakh.
Hayward, who has previously plied his trade for Dabang Mumbai as a youngster in the HIL, brings with him a plethora of experience which includes a World Cup gold and bronze, and an Olympic silver medal.
They also boast of Argentine Nicolas Della Torre at the backline, and together with Harmanpreet and Hayward, they form a drag-flicking trio, which other teams would envy. The likes of Gurinder Singh, Maurya Ashu, and Pradip Mandal find themselves in a good place to develop themselves under their wings.
The Soorma Hockey Club also went big for experienced Indian youngster Vivek Sagar Prasad, spending as much as Rs 50 lakh for his services. The 24-year-old from Itarsi will be expected to don the hat of a playmaker in a midfield which also includes the 2020 Olympic gold medal-winning Victor Wegnez and his national team counterpart Nicolas Poncelet. The likes of Indian junior Sunit Lakra, Harjeet Singh, and Ankush add a good depth to the squad.
Leading the charge in front of Soorma Hockey Club would be Olympic medallist Gurjant Singh, the rising Pawan Rajbhar, and Youth Olympic medallist Maninder Singh. They also have Argentina’s Nicolas Keenan, Dutchman Boris Burkhardt, and South Africa’s Dayan Cassiem in their ranks, rounding off a good attacking line.
The 37-year-old Belgian veteran Vanasch Vincent seems to be a sure-shot starter in front of the goal. He would also expected to don the hat of a mentor to the young Indian goalkeepers Mohith HS and Jashandeep Singh.
Goalkeepers: Mohith HS, Vanasch Vincent, Jashandeep Singh
Defenders: Gurinder Singh, Maurya Ashu, Pradip Mandal, Nicolas Della Torre, Jeremy Hayward, Sukhwinder, Harmanpreet Singh
Midfielders: Vivek Sagar Prasad, Ankush, Wegnez Victor, Prabhjot Singh, Sunit Lakra, Harjeet Singh, Nicolas Poncelet
Forwards: Nicolas Keenan, Boris Burkhardt, Dayan Cassiem, Mutagar Harish Somappa, Pawan Rajbhar, Maninder Singh, Gurjant Singh
Strengths and Weakness
Without an iota of doubt, the Soorma Hockey Club’s biggest strength lies in its defensive pack. With Harmanpreet and Hayward forming the backline and sharing the drag-flicking duties, they can just sit back and relax in most matches. Add to that Vincent’s skills as a goalkeeper, it would be extremely difficult to penetrate the Soorma goalpost.
The forward line remains the only real weakness for Soorma Hockey Club, at least on paper. They will be overly reliant on Gurjant for goals with the likes of Rajbhar, Maninder, and Somappa lacking in high-level experience.
The foreign trio of Keenan, Burkhardt, and Cassiem also do not inspire a lot of confidence and it would be interesting to see how coach Jeroen Baart and mentor Sardar Singh tackle it.
Soorma Hockey Club Fixtures
29 December: Soorma Hockey Club v/s Tamil Nadu Dragons
2 January: Soorma Hockey Club v/s UP Rudras
5 January: Soorma Hockey Club v/s Kalinga Lancers
6 January: Soorma Hockey Club v/s Delhi SG Pipers
11 January: Soorma Hockey Club v/s Hyderabad Toofans
14 January: Soorma Hockey Club v/s Team Gonasika
17 January: Soorma Hockey Club v/s Shrachi Rarh Bengal
20 January: Soorma Hockey Club v/s Shrachi Rarh Bengal
22 January: Soorma Hockey Club v/s Delhi SG Pipers
27 January:Soorma Hockey Club v/s Kalinga Lancers.
Note:
The Men’s matches of the HIL will take place between the 28th of December 2024 and the 1st of February 2025 at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium, Rourkela.
– The Women’s matches of the HIL will be played between the 12th of January and the 26th of January 2025 at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astroturf Hockey Stadium, Ranchi
– Hockey India League 2024-25: Full schedule, fixtures, venues
– Free passes may be booked on https://ticketgenie.in/
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