HIL’s third edition on shaky ground

Even as the Indian hockey teams returned disappointing performances from the ongoing World Cup, the revived Hockey India League’s third edition seems to be on shaky ground.

The HIL is battling for survival on several fronts barely two years after being re-launched with much fanfare. Multiple sources have confirmed to The Hindu that more than one existing team is on the verge of exiting and there are question marks over the women’s competition as well. In addition, very few foreign players have expressed interest in returning for the league.

“Last year, the Ranchi franchise came in as replacement for the Odisha team in the women’s competition and Gonasika among the men. Shrachi Tigers, who own the Bengal franchise among both men and women, are also on the lookout of investors to offload and exit,” federation sources admitted.

Earlier this year, owners of Ranchi Royals wrote to the HIL Governing Council seeking clarity on their continuation, non-receipt of promised sponsorship worth ₹10 cr. from the Jharkhand government and transparency in commercial terms. The franchise has since been terminated over non-payment issues with Hockey India clearing dues from the franchise’s share of revenue.

Among the four women’s team, only JSW Sports and APL Apollo, owners of Delhi SG Pipers, have agreed to continue in the league, albeit verbally at the moment, after considering an exit. Sources said talks are in final stages for a Bangalore-based team as well. “The women’s league will happen, and with four teams only. The modalities are still being worked out but there is no question of discontinuing it,” a source in the know insisted.

The men’s competition, however, is likely to see fewer teams down from the eight in the first two editions. “There may be a change of ownership or franchise city. The number of teams is also likely to be less, perhaps five or six at the most,” Hockey India officials said.

The league has been plagues with issues from the beginning. Gonasika was roped in as the eight men’s team on the day of Player Auction in 2024.

Ranchi’s original women’s team was accused of non-payment by several foreign players and even Shrachi managed to clear its dues for the 2025 season only towards the end of June. The lack of foreign players’ interest due to payment uncertainties also forced Hockey India to extend its initial registration deadline from July 24 to August 31.

It has also been reliably learnt that HI president Dilip Tirkey has had several rounds of meetings with franchise owners including Parth Jindal of JSW and Sanjay Gupta of APL Apollo, prospective sponsors and representatives of the Tata Group in the last one month across the country, trying to salvage the league.

It has also been learnt that the precarious situation around HIL and the series of meetings had led to Tirkey cancel his own travel for the World Cup and denying official permission to HI Director General Cdr. RK Srivastava, convenor the HIL Governing Committee, for the same, which was disregarded.