Share this story
Hockey India recently unveiled an 18-man team for the FIH Men's Series Finals, starting June 6 in Bhubaneswar. Manpreet Singh will take the helm as captain, supported by Birendra Lakra as his deputy. Placed in Pool A alongside Uzbekistan, Poland, and Russia, India is striving for consistency under the guidance of coach Graham Reid. Starting their journey with a match against Russia, Reid intends to use the competition to build player confidence and evaluate which athletes align with his future strategic goals. Here are five Indian players who are expected to shine in the upcoming series.
Manpreet Singh
At just 26 years old, captain Manpreet Singh is already one of India's most seasoned players, boasting a record of over 200 caps. His journey began at the Surjit Singh Hockey Academy, leading to a consistent presence in both the junior and senior national teams. From 2012 to 2014, he held the captaincy for various major events, including the Junior Hockey World Cup and the Sultan Johar Cup. A highlight of his early leadership was steering India to a gold medal at the 2013 Sultan of Johar Cup, where he scored in a decisive 3-0 victory over Malaysia. His talent was formally recognized in 2014 when Asian Hockey named him Junior Player of the Year, paving the way for his eventual appointment as the senior team's captain.
Vivek Sagar Prasad
Vivek is widely seen as one of the most gifted talents in Indian hockey, having trained under the legendary Ashok Kumar. He made a stunning entry into international hockey at the age of 17 years, 10 months, and 22 days, becoming the second-youngest player to ever represent the nation. Now 19, he is known for his incredible ball control and agility, consistently scoring and creating opportunities since his debut. The level of trust the selectors have in him is immense; notably, during the Commonwealth Games, he was chosen over the veteran Sardar Singh. Replacing a player of Sardar's stature is no small feat, but Vivek's exceptional skill set makes him the perfect successor.
Akashdeep Singh
The 24-year-old forward has evolved into a cornerstone of India's offensive line over the last few years and is now closing in on 200 international caps. His rise began after captaining the junior team to a third-place finish at the 2011 Junior Asia Cup in Malaysia, which earned him a spot on the senior squad the following year. His reliability on the field led to an FIH Rising Star nomination in 2015—the same year he became the most expensive Indian player in the HIL auctions, joining the UP Wizards. Fresh off being named Player of the Tournament at the 2018 Asian Champions Trophy, Akashdeep is looking to maintain that momentum in the FIH Men's Series Finals.
Mandeep Singh
Mandeep, another alumnus of the Surjit Singh Hockey Academy, was a key figure in India's 2018 Asian Champions Trophy victory. The Jalandhar native first made waves in the inaugural Hockey India League, where he was acquired by the Ranchi Rhinos; he not only helped the franchise win the title but was also named the tournament's top upcoming player. Since debuting in 2013, he has earned over 100 caps and delivered several clutch performances. Among his most memorable moments are scoring a hat-trick to secure a 4-3 win against Japan in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and netting three goals in a vital World League Final victory over Germany.Hockey India League (HIL) auctions and went on to enjoy a highly successful season with the franchise as they won the HIL title, while he received the Upcoming Player of the Tournament award. After making his international debut in 2013, Mandeep has over 100 caps and made some crucial contributions along the way. His hat-trick that gave India a 4-3 win over Japan to avoid an ignominious defeat in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup was one such occasion and his treble in the World League Final victory over Germany is another.
Harmanpreet Singh
The 23-year-old defender from Amritsar is yet another graduate of the Surjit Singh Hockey Academy who has been turning heads since his junior days. Hockey fans still vividly remember his dominant performance four years ago when he scored four goals against Pakistan in the Asia Junior Cup Final. Having finished as the top scorer at the 2017 Asia Cup, Harmanpreet is expected to be a threat in the FIH Men's Series Finals, where he will likely continue his trend of contributing goals from the back.
Written by: Nithin John