Hockey teams' progress card ahead of big 2026

THE lights have been turned off, the fireworks burst and the keys have been tucked away by the groundskeeper of the Kalinga Stadium.

- SWAROOP SWAMINATHAN @Chennai

India's home hockey season has come to a close for the two senior sides and now is an opportune time to take stock of where both sides are, with respect to the upcoming Asia Cup and leading into a World Cup year as well as the Asian Games (it will, as is customary these days, double up as the Olympic qualifier).

For starters, the Hockey India League, even if it's a welcome addition to the calendar, has taken its toll on a number of players. At least one senior player this daily spoke to was worried about the load he had carried over the last two months or so. Coach Craig Fulton said that the management would continuously monitor the workloads of all players at HIL 2026 before taking a call on their participation for the next edition of the Pro League. He's open to the idea of resting several first-team players if they are close to the red zone in terms of picking up muscular injuries.