The National men’s hockey team will be led by seasoned drag flicker Harmanpreet Singh for the FIH World Cup 2026. India last won the prestigious World Cup in 1975.

Seasoned drag flicker Harmanpreet Singh has been named skipper of the national men’s hockey team for upcoming FIH World Cup in Belgium/Netherlands. The 20-member Indian men’s hockey squad was announced Monday by Hockey India. The prestigious global event will start August 15.

India’s Chief Hockey Coach Craig Fulton says the Indian men’s team has a bright chance to “write its own chapter in Indian hockey history”. India last won the prestigious World Cup in 1975. “This is a well-balanced squad — the right mix of tournament experience and in-form youth who have earned their spot through performance, not reputation,” the chief coach added.

The men’s hockey team has won back-to-back bronze medals at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games and 2024 Paris Games, but performance in the World Cups have not been so encouraging.   

In the previous three World Cups, two of them held on the home ground in Bhubaneswar, Indian team finished sixth in 2018. Despite home advantage, the Indian men’s hockey team finished a disappointing ninth in the 2023 World Cup in Odisha. The Indian team finished ninth in the 2014 World Cup. It has been nearly 50 years since India won the prestigious hockey World Cup in 1975.  

For the 2026 World Cup, India is clubbed in Pool D with England, Pakistan and Wales. India will begin their campaign against Wales on August 15 and will face England on August 17. The Indian team will take on arch-rivals Pakistan on August 19.

Indian squad: 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.

EOM.