Hockey India League is a professional field hockey league in India. It is organized by Hockey India, the governing body for the sport in India.[1] It is considered one of the major sports leagues of the country.[2]
It was founded in 2013 as a part of Hockey India's attempt to develop an International Hockey Federation sanctioned league after the un-sanctioned World Series Hockey, began in 2012.[3] The first season took place in 2013.[4] It proved to be a financial success for Hockey India, who were in financial disarray before the league began. In 2015, it was reported that the federation earned a profit from multiple revenues.[5]
The most recent champions of the Hockey India League is Odisha Warriors who won the tournament in 2025.
History
The first event in the league format in India was a hockey league named the Premier Hockey League organised by ESPN-Star Sports, Indian Hockey Federation and Leisure Sports Management from 2005 to 2008.[6] It was based on the model of NBA league. It was a pioneer in Indian sports which inspired the Indian Premier League and many others that followed.
Later in 2012, the Indian Hockey Federation and Nimbus began World Series Hockey, a professional field hockey league in India.[7] After the success of the league, Hockey India announced the formation of their own franchise-based league, launched in mid-2012, known as the Hockey India League. The league was approved by the International Hockey Federation. The league was originally planned to have six teams, which would be established after the bidding was done for the twelve proposed cities that would host an HIL team.[8] However, due to lack of interest in a sixth city, the league commenced in 2013 with five teams.[9] Before the beginning of the season, ESPN STAR Sports was announced as the league's official broadcasting partner on a five-year deal.[10]
The first match was played on 14 January 2013, as Delhi Waveriders defeated the Punjab Warriors 2–1 at the Dhyan Chand National Stadium.[11] The league had gained some buzz from the marquee signings of India internationals Sardara Singh and Sandeep Singh, as well as the signings of foreign players such as Jamie Dwyer, Moritz Fürste, and Teun de Nooijer.[12] The inaugural season ended with Ranchi Rhinos being the first champions, defeating the Delhi Waveriders 2–1 in the final.[13] The league was considered a success immediately in the years following the inaugural season.[14]
Before the beginning of the second season, Kalinga Lancers were announced as the sixth team in the Hockey India League.[15] However, after the 2014 season, the league suffered its first setback when the Mumbai Magicians disbanded.[16] The team was swiftly replaced though with Dabang Mumbai being launched before the 2015 season.[17] The league though suffered another setback before the 2015 season when Ranchi Rhinos, the inaugural champions, were disbanded after an ownership problem. The team though, like with Mumbai, was quickly replaced with Ranchi Rays.[18][19]
Previously, HIL used to consist of six teams, with the regular season from January to February, each team playing 10 games.[22] The top four teams at the end of the season move into the play-offs, where the game decides the Hockey India League winner.[23]
Since 2024, the teams have been expanded to eight. Meanwhile, the league's addition of the women's tournament will see six teams in its inaugural edition.
If there is a tie in any match then there would be extra time. Still, if winner is not decided, there would be a shoot-out. If still the winner is not decided there would be no option left other than penalty strokes.
Hockey India appointed Todd Faulds as its competitions director for the second edition of the Hockey India League.[27][28] He previously worked as a competitions manager for the FIH 2012 Men's Champions Trophy in Melbourne and 2012 International Super Series in Perth.
Bjorn Isberg has been the Hockey India League tournament director since 2014. Isberg had served as tournament director for the 2012 London Olympics field hockey tournament, and three Champions Trophy tournaments (in 2004, 2007, and 2011).[29]
