Hockey India League (HIL) will return after a seven-year break later this year, it was confirmed on Friday (4 October). The HIL 2024-25 edition will feature eight men’s teams and six women’s teams. Both the men’s and women’s leagues will run simultaneously – men’s in Rourkela and women’s in Ranchi – and avoid clash with the international calendar.
The men’s league will run from 28 December until 1 February while the women’s competition will conclude on 26 January.
“A clear 35-40 day window will enable maximum participation from foreign players in HIL, thus making it one of the most competitive leagues in the world and also signifies the importance of HIL” said Hockey India president and former player Dilip Tirkey at the announcement event in Delhi.
HI secretary Bhola Nath Singh clarified that the global body (FIH) has opened the December-February window for the HIL to be played for the next five years.
“I thank the FIH for giving us a window for the next five years, from December 28 to February 5 each year,” he said.
The men’s teams have been registered in Chennai, Lucknow, Punjab, Kolkata, Delhi, Odisha, Hyderabad and Ranchi. The women’s franchises have been allocated for Haryana, Kolkata, Delhi, Odisha and two more are yet to be finalised.
Of the franchises, JSW Sports (Punjab and Haryana), Shrachi Sports (Kolkata), SG Sports and Entertainment (Delhi), Vedanta Limited (Odisha) and Navoyam Sports Ventures Private Limited (Ranchi and Odisha) have taken the rights for both men and women teams.
Mahesh Bhupathi, co-owner of Delhi men and women franchises, said at the announcement event, “We hope to live up to the expectations, work hard and build hopefully a successful franchise. The women’s part of it is very important, women sports is on the rise in India.”
After all the teams are finalised, the player’s auction will be held between 13 and 15 October in Delhi. Three slabs have been set for both men’s and women’s players – Rs. 2 lakh, Rs. 5 lakh and Rs. 10 lakh. The players who put their name in the auction pool, also mentioned their base price during the registration process.
HIL was run between 2013 and 2017 before being dropped from the calendar due to financial losses.
HIL Men’s teams:
Chennai (franchise owners: Charles Group)
Lucknow (Yadu Sports)
Punjab (JSW Sports)
Kolkata (Shrachi Sports)
Delhi (SG Sports and Entertainment)
Odisha (Vedanta Limited)
Hyderabad (Resolute Sports)
Ranchi (Navoyam Sports Ventures Private Limited)
HIL Women’s teams (confirmed so far):
Haryana (JSW Sports)
Kolkata (Shrachi Sports)
Delhi (SG Sports and Entertainment)
Odisha (Navoyam Sports Ventures Private Limited)
