India men's hockey squad named for three-match New Zealand tour in November 2026
India's men's hockey team will tour New Zealand from November 15 to 23, 2026, for a three-match series in Auckland as part of the 2026 India/New Zealand Century of Sporting Unity Event – 100 Years of Unity Between India and New Zealand through Sports Partnership.
The visit commemorates a century of sporting links that began in 1926 when an Indian Army hockey team that included Major Dhyan Chand became the first Indian side in any sport to tour New Zealand. The matches are scheduled for November 19, 21 and 22 at Lloyd Elsmore Hockey Stadium in Auckland as part of the commemorative event.
Hockey India named a young squad for the tour that will be captained by Paris 2024 Olympic bronze medallist Sanjay (c). The selection mixes emerging under-21 players with members of the India A core and is intended to give promising players international exposure while allowing the coaching staff to evaluate depth within the setup.
The selected squad lists two goalkeepers: Mohith HS and Pawan. Defenders named are Talem Priyobart, Sanjay (c), Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Sharda Nand Tiwar, Anmol Ekka and Yashdeep Siwach. Midfielders include Angad Bir Singh, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Rabichandra Singh, Vishnukant Singh, Manmeet Singh, Rosan Kujur and Venkatesh Kenche. Forwards selected are Ajeet Yadav, Uttam Singh, Karthi Selvam, Arshdeep Singh and Araijeet Singh Hundal.
Chief Coach Craig Fulton commented on the balance of the group, saying: "The squad is a blend of some upcoming under-21 players and the core of the current India A group. These matches come at the right time to challenge the squad in three matches against a solid New Zealand team playing at home," said Chief Coach Craig Fulton. The federation noted that the selected players will look to make the most of this opportunity, demonstrate their potential and strengthen their claims for future national team assignments.
Hockey India officials framed the tour as both celebratory and developmental. Dr Dilip Tirkey, Hockey India’s President, said: "The New Zealand tour is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate 100 years of sporting friendship between our nations. I am confident our young players will make the most of this experience and showcase Indian hockey’s talent and potential." Hockey India’s Secretary General, Shri Bhola Nath Singh, added: "This tour holds immense historical significance as we celebrate a century of sporting partnership between India and New Zealand. It will also provide our promising young players with a valuable platform to gain international experience, showcase their abilities and demonstrate their readiness for future challenges."
Match timings for viewers in India are Nov 19, Thursday – 11:00 am IST; Nov 21, Saturday – 8:30 am IST; and Nov 22, Sunday – 6:30 am IST. For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Whatsapp & Telegram