The Hero Hockey India League (HIL) 2025–26 is set to kick off with an expanded schedule and venues. The men’s league will be played across three major cities—Chennai, Ranchi, and Bhubaneswar—while the women’s league will once again be held entirely in Ranchi, following the success of last year’s format.
The men’s tournament will begin on January 3, 2026, at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium in Chennai, featuring the Tamil Nadu Dragons and Hyderabad Toofans. The action will then move to Ranchi from January 11 to 16, hosted at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Astro Turf Stadium.
The final leg will take place in Bhubaneswar at the Kalinga Stadium from January 17 to 26, culminating in the final on January 26. A total of 33 matches are scheduled for the men’s league, with eight teams competing in a round-robin format followed by knockout rounds.
The women’s league will kick off on December 28, 2025, at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Astro Turf Stadium in Ranchi. The four participating teams—Ranchi Royals, SG Pipers, JSW Soorma Hockey Club, and Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers—will compete in a round-robin format, with the final scheduled for January 3, 2026.
The decision to host the men’s league across three cities aims to promote hockey nationwide and provide fans in different regions with access to top-tier matches. The women’s league’s return to Ranchi ensures a centralized, high-quality experience for both players and fans.
This season’s HIL promises to showcase the best of Indian and international hockey talent, as teams vie for supremacy in one of the country’s premier sporting leagues.
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