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Hockey India has announced an 18-member Indian men’s hockey squad for the Hero Asian Champions Trophy Punjab 2026, with captain Harmanpreet Singh set to lead the defending champions on home soil. Goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak has returned to the national setup, while young defender Amandeep Lakra and midfielder Aditya Arjun Lalage have also earned places in the team.
The tournament will take place in Jalandhar and Mohali from October 27 to November 5, 2026. India will aim to build on their recent continental success and add another title in front of home supporters.
Harmanpreet Singh will lead India after captaining the team to gold at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. The experienced defender remains a key figure in India’s defensive structure and penalty-corner attack.
India’s squad retains much of the group that delivered success at the Asian Games, reflecting the coaching staff’s preference for continuity ahead of another important continental tournament.
Head coach Craig Fulton said playing the competition in Punjab would be a special occasion for the team, particularly given the state’s long-standing contribution to Indian hockey.
Goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak’s return is one of the main developments in the squad announcement. He joins Suraj Karkera in the goalkeeping group for the tournament.
Pathak’s inclusion adds experience to the position as India prepare to face a competitive field of Asian teams. The squad also includes young defender Amandeep Lakra and midfielder Aditya Arjun Lalage, who have earned another opportunity to strengthen their positions in the senior setup.
Two players, midfielder Vishnu Kant Singh and forward Angad Bir Singh, have been named as reserves.
Goalkeepers: Suraj Karkera, Krishan Bahadur Pathak
Defenders: Sanjay, Harmanpreet Singh (captain), Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Amandeep Lakra
Midfielders: Rajinder Singh, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Nilakanta Sharma, Hardik Singh, Manpreet Singh
Forwards: Shilanand Lakra, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh
Reserve players: Vishnu Kant Singh, Angad Bir Singh
The tournament marks the return of international hockey to Punjab, a state with a rich history of producing Indian hockey players. Jalandhar and Mohali will share hosting duties, bringing the competition to a region with a strong connection to the sport.
According to Hockey India, the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar will host the opening ceremony and league-stage matches. The tournament will then move to the Olympian Balbir Singh Senior International Hockey Stadium in Mohali for the knockout stage and medal matches.
India will face Japan, China, Malaysia, South Korea and Bangladesh in the six-team competition. Pakistan withdrew from the tournament, with Bangladesh named as its replacement.
India enter the competition as defending champions and the most successful team in the tournament’s history. They have won the Asian Champions Trophy five times, including a shared title with Pakistan in 2018.
The home tournament offers India an opportunity to build momentum following their Asian Games triumph. With an experienced core and a few younger players in the squad, the team will look to combine defensive discipline, penalty-corner efficiency and attacking depth as they pursue another continental title.
