Sports · Other Sports · 6 hrs ago
Sanjay to captain young India hockey squad on New Zealand tour
Sanjay will captain a young 20-player India men’s hockey squad on a tour of New Zealand.
The team will play three matches in Auckland on November 19, 21 and 22.
Harmanpreet Singh, Hardik Singh and several other senior players have been rested, while the squad includes Under-21 prospects and players from the India A group.
The changes follow a busy period in which India’s senior team played the World Cup, Asian Games and Asian Champions Trophy within three months.
Coach Craig Fulton is using the tour to assess emerging players against New Zealand on home ground.
The tour also marks 100 years since an Indian Army hockey team led by Major Dhyan Chand visited New Zealand in 1926, the first tour there by an Indian team from any sport.
The matches give young players international experience as India begins its transition toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
India has named Sanjay captain of a 20-member men’s hockey squad for a three-match tour of New Zealand.
The squad is made up of emerging Under-21 players and members of the India A group.
Senior players including Harmanpreet Singh and Hardik Singh have been rested.
India will play New Zealand on November 19, 21 and 22 in Auckland.
The tour marks 100 years since an Indian Army hockey team led by Major Dhyan Chand visited New Zealand.
- Who
- A 20-member Indian men’s hockey squad, captained by Sanjay, will tour New Zealand.
- What
- India will play three matches against New Zealand.
- When
- The matches are scheduled for November 19, 21 and 22, 2026.
- Where
- Lloyd Elsmore Hockey Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand.
- Why
- The tour will give young players international experience and mark 100 years since an Indian Army hockey team toured New Zealand.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
An Indian Army hockey team led by Major Dhyan Chand made the first tour of New Zealand by an Indian team from any sport.
Hockey India announced the 20-member squad for the New Zealand tour.
India is scheduled to play three matches against New Zealand in Auckland.
- Squad size
- 20 players
- Captain
- Sanjay
- Matches
- November 19, 21 and 22, 2026
- Venue
- Lloyd Elsmore Hockey Stadium, Auckland
- Rested senior players
- Harmanpreet Singh and Hardik Singh
2 sources
What people are saying
The squad is a blend of some upcoming under-21 players and the core of the current India A group. These matches come at the right time to challenge the squad in three matches against a solid New Zealand team playing at home.