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SportsIndia names 20-man squad for Hockey World Cup, Harmanpreet Singh to lead
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India has announced a 20-member squad for the upcoming FIH Men's Hockey World Cup, with Harmanpreet Singh as captain. The team, selected from a 24-member Pro League squad, omits four players due to tournament size limits. India's recent Pro League campaign was disappointing, finishing eighth out of nine teams. The squad blends experienced players like Manpreet Singh with younger talent. India, who have not won a World Cup medal since 1975, are drawn in Pool D with England, Pakistan, and Wales. Their campaign begins on August 15 against Wales, with the marquee clash against Pakistan on August 19. Chief coach Craig Fulton expressed confidence in the balanced squad and the team's tactical identity.
Source report
Source: PTI
India on Tuesday (July 21, 2026) named a 20-member squad for next month's FIH Men's Hockey World Cup, with four players from the side who featured in the European leg of the Pro League missing out due to the tournament's squad-size limit.
Defender Amandeep Lakra, midfielders Raj Kumar Pal and Rabichandra Singh Moirangthem, and forward Selvam Karthi were the four players omitted from the 24-member Pro League squad.
Recent Form and World Cup History
India endured a disappointing FIH Pro League campaign last month, winning four, drawing five, and losing seven matches to finish eighth among nine teams, just above Pakistan.
The side will now look to improve on their recent World Cup record. India finished ninth in the previous edition in 2023 and have not won any medal since claiming their lone title in Kuala Lumpur in 1975. They had earlier secured bronze in Barcelona in 1971 and silver in Amsterdam in 1973.
Captain and Squad Composition
Ace drag-flicker and defender Harmanpreet Singh, who led India to an Olympic bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Games, will captain the side.
Veteran midfielder Manpreet Singh, India's most-capped player, adds experience to a squad blending established stars with promising youngsters.
"This is a well-balanced squad — the right mix of tournament experience and in-form youth who've earned their spot through performance, not reputation," chief coach Craig Fulton said.
Goalkeepers
- Mohith HS
- Suraj Karkera
Defenders
- Jarmanpreet Singh
- Harmanpreet Singh (c)
- Amit Rohidas
- Jugraj Singh
- Sanjay
- Sumit
- Yashdeep Siwach
Midfielders
- Rajinder Singh
- Aditya Arjun Lalage
- Hardik Singh
- Manpreet Singh
- Nilakanta Sharma
- Vivek Sagar Prasad
Forwards
- Dilpreet Singh
- Shilanand Lakra
- Sukhjeet Singh
- Mandeep Singh
- Abhishek
Group Stage and Fixtures
India have been drawn in Pool D alongside England, Pakistan, and Wales, with all their group-stage matches scheduled to be played in Amstelveen, the Netherlands.
- August 15: India vs Wales
- August 17: India vs England
- August 19: India vs Pakistan (marquee clash)
Coach's Remarks
"Press, counter, perform isn't just our tactical identity — it's how this group trains and thinks together every single day. We are not getting ahead of ourselves — one game at a time, all in, is the mentality we're taking into every match," Fulton added.
"Fifty years since 1975 (World Cup win), this group has a chance to write its own chapter in Indian hockey history, and we are really excited about it," Fulton concluded.
Source
The Hindu: Latest News today from India and the World, Breaking news, Top Headlines and Trending News Videos.Regional
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India names 20-member squad for Hockey World Cup, Harmanpreet Singh to lead