Hockey India League to kick off in Chennai on January 3

The new season of the Hero-Hockey India League (HIL) 2025-26 will see the men’s league played across three major cities, Chennai, Ranchi and Bhubaneswar, while the women’s league will once again take place entirely in Ranchi, following the success of last year’s format.

The men’s HIL will kick off on January 3 at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium in Chennai with the first match featuring the home side Tamil Nadu Dragons and Hyderabad Toofans.

The men’s league will feature eight teams, namely, the Tamil Nadu Dragons, Hyderabad Toofans, JSW Soorma Hockey Club, Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers (defending champions), Vedanta Kalinga Lancers, Ranchi Royals, SG Pipers, and HIL Governing Council.

Meanwhile, the women’s HIL will begin on December 28 at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda Astro Turf Stadium in Ranchi. The opening clash will see Ranchi Royals take on SG Pipers, followed by a week of competitive fixtures among the four teams including Ranchi Royals, SG Pipers, JSW Soorma Hockey Club, and Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers.

The opening leg of the men’s HIL will be held in Chennai from January 3 to 9 in Chennai before moving to Ranchi for the second leg from January 11 to 16 at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Munda AstroTurf Stadium, Ranchi.

The third and final leg will be held from January 17 to 26 at the Kalinga Stadium, Bhubaneswar. Each team will face the other once in a single round-robin format, with the top four teams advancing to the playoffs. The knockout stage—comprising Qualifier 1 and the Eliminator on January 23, followed by Qualifier 2 on January 25—will all take place in Bhubaneswar. The season will culminate in a grand finale on January 26 at the Kalinga Stadium.

The women’s HIL will follow a double round-robin format, with each of the four teams facing every other side twice. Following the league stage, the top two teams on the points table will qualify for the final on January 10, 2026.