The first leg of the Men’s Hockey India League (HIL) will be held in Chennai in the first week of January 2026 (either on the third or fourth), followed by the second leg in Ranchi. The final will be played on February 1 in Bhubaneswar.
The Women’s HIL is likely to begin in the second week of January with the league matches in Bhubaneswar. The final is slated in Ranchi on January 30.
The men’s HIL will have an IPL-like play-off with Qualifier and Eliminator.
A mini-auction for men is likely to be held on Sept. 23 and 24 and it is reliably learnt that all the franchises are expected to retain a majority of their players.
The last time a hockey league was held in Chennai was way back in 2012 when the then IHF and Nimbus conducted World Series Hockey.
Published – August 30, 2025 05:46 am IST
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