New Delhi — Hockey India on Thursday unveiled a 24-member Indian men’s squad for the upcoming European leg of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2024–25, scheduled from June 7 to 22 in Amstelveen (Netherlands) and Antwerp (Belgium).
The team will be led by ace drag-flicker Harmanpreet Singh as captain, with midfield maestro Hardik Singh serving as vice-captain. India’s campaign begins with back-to-back matches against hosts Netherlands on June 7 and 9, followed by clashes with Argentina on June 11 and 12 at the iconic Wagener Stadium in Amstelveen.
The team then travels to Antwerp, where they will take on Australia on June 14 and 15, before concluding the leg with two games against Belgium on June 21 and 22.
Squad Overview
India’s lineup includes a solid mix of experienced players and emerging talents across all departments:
Goalkeepers
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Suraj Karkera
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Krishan Bahadur Pathak
Defenders
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Nilam Sanjeep Xess
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Sumit
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Amit Rohidas
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Jugraj Singh
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Harmanpreet Singh (Captain)
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Jarmanpreet Singh
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Sanjay
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Yashdeep Siwach
Midfielders
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Shamsher Singh
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Hardik Singh (Vice-Captain)
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Rajinder Singh
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Manpreet Singh
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Vivek Sagar Prasad
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Raj Kumar Pal
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Nilakanta Sharma
Forwards
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Shilanand Lakra
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Gurjant Singh
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Abhishek
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Mandeep Singh
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Lalit Kumar Upadhyay
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Dilpreet Singh
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Sukhjeet Singh
Pro League Stakes High for World Cup Qualification
India heads into this leg in a strong position, having earned 15 points from 8 games in the home leg held in Bhubaneswar earlier this year, placing third on the league table. The top team at the end of the league will secure a direct berth in the 2026 Men’s FIH Hockey World Cup, making every point critical in the final stretch.
Coach Craig Fulton Confident, Focused on Results
Speaking on the selection, Head Coach Craig Fulton emphasized the importance of experience and performance at this crucial juncture.
“We’ve gone with a more experienced group this time. The team has been training hard, and our goal is to push ourselves to the limit and win the Pro League,” Fulton said. “We’re targeting better game management — turning close losses into draws and using shootouts to our advantage.”
He also pointed out the team’s intent to sharpen its penalty corner conversion rate, a key area of focus for the upcoming matches.
With a balanced squad, clear strategies, and high motivation, Team India is all set to make a strong push in Europe as they chase Pro League glory and a place in the next Hockey World Cup.
