Hockey India League Update: Kalinga Lancers Emerging as the Team to Beat, Field Goals Surpass Penalty Corners

The Kalinga Lancers continued their impressive run, securing a narrow 2-1 victory over Team Gonasika in a tightly contested match. This game reinforced one of the defining trends of the Hockey India League in Rourkela: field goals have outpaced set-piece strikes. After 17 matches, 41 goals have come from open play, compared to 32 penalty corner goals and just one penalty stroke. For context, the Paris Olympics (men’s event) saw an even split of 154 goals: 77 field goals, 62 penalty corners, and 15 penalty strokes.

The Lancers’ second consecutive win was fueled entirely by field goals. SV Sunil (14’) initially gave Gonasika the lead, capitalizing on their strong start after a heartbreaking 5-6 loss just a day prior. However, the Lancers’ international players stepped up, with Antoine Kina (28’) and captain Aran Zalewski (33’) turning the game around.

Lancers Gaining Momentum

With two significant wins in a row, the Kalinga Lancers are emerging as the team to beat as the league reaches its halfway point. Early frontrunners Bengal Tigers and UP Rudras have faltered, each suffering defeats against teams at the bottom of the table. The standings remain tight, with only Delhi SG Pipers yet to secure a win, while every other team has suffered at least one loss, either in regulation or a shootout.

On Tuesday, the Lancers delivered a standout performance, defeating the previously unbeaten Tigers 6-1 and climbing to third place in the standings.

A Tight Race for the Top Four

The competition for a top-four spot is shaping up to be fierce. No team has completely pulled ahead or fallen drastically behind, and the next few rounds could provide a clearer picture. With limited pre-tournament practice time, team chemistry between Indian and international players is expected to improve, which may influence results.

The Lancers, along with the Tamil Nadu Dragons, are emerging as teams to watch. For the Dragons, Dutch drag-flicker Jip Janssen is finding form, while Blake Govers has built strong chemistry with Indian youngsters. The Lancers’ squad, assembled without exceeding Rs 38 lakh for any player, boasts international goal-scoring talent, including Thierry Brinkman, Alexander Hendrickx, and Nicholas Bandurak, who are beginning to hit their stride.

A key advantage for the Lancers is their ability to field Krishan Pathak in goal, allowing them to consistently play five overseas players. This strategy paid off on Thursday when Hendrickx assisted Zalewski’s match-winning goal.

Dutch Players Leading the Scoring Charts

The top scorers so far are Dutch stars Thierry Brinkman and Jip Janssen, each with four goals, including a hat-trick. After a slow start, India captain Harmanpreet Singh has found his rhythm, scoring three goals in his last two games. Others with three goals include Jugraj Singh, Belgium’s Hendrickx, and Argentina’s Tomas Domene.

Indian Players Making an Impact

Among Indian players, Harmanpreet and Jugraj lead with three goals each. Seven others, including Sukhjeet Singh (Tigers), Araijeet Singh Hundal (Gonasika), and Sudeep Chirmako (Rudras), have netted twice and shown sharp attacking instincts. Retired stars Rupinder Pal Singh and SV Sunil have also contributed two goals each, with Rupinder delivering solid defensive performances for the Tigers. Other standout Indian players include Dilpreet Singh (Lancers), Jaskaran Singh (Tigers), and Rajinder Singh (Toofans), all of whom have impressed with their skill and work rate.

The league remains highly competitive, and as the teams gel further, the battle for playoff spots promises to intensify.