PR Sreejesh questions India’s decision to field seniors at Asian Champions Trophy
Former India goalkeeper PR Sreejesh on October 14, 2026 posted on X questioning India’s choice to send their established players to the Asian Champions Trophy, arguing the competition should be used to test bench strength and blood younger players. He raised his concerns after India’s Asian Games gold and with the Champions Trophy scheduled to start later in October.
Sreejesh noted the Asian Champions Trophy is India’s third major assignment in roughly three months, following the World Cup and the Asian Games, with only about two weeks between the World Cup and the Asian Games and a further gap of three weeks before the Champions Trophy. He said the tournament offered an opportunity to prepare younger players for the challenges ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics and to evaluate backup options.
“We’ve won Asian Games gold, yet we’re back with our best players for the Asian Champions Trophy. Is this tournament really worth the risk of exhausting our key players when bigger challenges lie ahead?” Sreejesh wrote. “Even Pakistan isn’t participating! Why not rest our stars, test our bench strength, and give young players a real opportunity to prove themselves?”
He also questioned whether the selection reflected long-term planning or the pursuit of another trophy, and raised concerns about the chief coach’s position and senior players nearing the end of their careers. “Do we have a genuine second line-up, or are we simply afraid to test it? Or is another trophy the perfect way for the chief coach to secure another two years in the hot seat? We are 8th in the world ranking. Are we building a team for the future, or protecting positions in the present?”
Sreejesh addressed reports that Mandeep Singh, Amit Rohidas, Jarmanpreet Singh and Nilakanta Sharma could be playing their final matches for India at the Asian Champions Trophy and posed the possibility of the tournament serving as a farewell. “Or, as the rumour goes, is this tournament a platform for some big names to say goodbye? If that’s the real plan, then I genuinely appreciate it! Legends deserve a proper farewell!” Reports suggested the four players were caught off guard by the news and had not been consulted, and their reported desire to continue representing India added to the debate.
India’s selection does include opportunities for younger players, with defender Amandeep Lakra and forward Aditya Arjun Lalage named in the squad and goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak returning, while the core of the Asian Games-winning side remains intact. The tournament will also see international hockey return to Punjab, with matches scheduled in Jalandhar and Mohali.
India secured direct qualification for the 2028 Olympics through their Asian Games triumph, and the Asian Champions Trophy, which begins on October 27, offers a chance to assess the squad’s depth while maintaining competitive momentum.