India to Play Three-Match Hockey Series Against New Zealand as Sanjay Leads Young Squad

Olympic bronze medallist Sanjay will lead a 20-member Indian men’s hockey team in a three-match series against New Zealand from November 15 to 23, with the tour also marking 100 years of sporting ties between the two countries. 

India will face the hosts on November 19, 21 and 22 at the Lloyd Elsmore Hockey Stadium in Auckland.

The series will provide an important international opportunity for India's emerging players, with the squad featuring a combination of promising Under-21 talents and members of the current India A core. Hockey India announced the squad on Monday, with chief coach Craig Fulton looking to use the three matches to assess the next generation of players against a competitive New Zealand side.

The tour also carries historical significance, commemorating the 1926 visit of an Indian Army hockey team featuring legendary Major Dhyan Chand. That team became the first Indian team from any sport to tour New Zealand, establishing a century-long sporting connection between the two nations.

India's three-match assignment will begin on November 19, followed by fixtures on November 21 and 22. All three matches will be played at the Lloyd Elsmore Hockey Stadium in Auckland. The closely scheduled series will test the Indian players' ability to adapt to overseas conditions, maintain consistency and perform across multiple matches. It will also give the coaching staff an opportunity to assess combinations and individual performances against a home team familiar with the playing conditions.

Chief coach Craig Fulton said the squad had been selected to bring together emerging Under-21 players and members of the India A setup.

“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,” Fulton said.

For the younger members of the squad, the series represents an opportunity to gain valuable international experience and demonstrate their readiness for higher levels of competition. The three fixtures will also help the support staff evaluate the depth available across different positions.

Sanjay to lead a 20-member squad

Sanjay, an Olympic bronze medallist, will captain the Indian side and provide leadership to a relatively young group. The goalkeeping department comprises Mohith HS and Pawan, while the defensive unit features Sanjay, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Sharda Nand Tiwari, Talem Priyobarta, Anmol Ekka and Yashdeep Siwach.

India have selected seven midfielders: Angad Bir Singh, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Rabichandra Singh, Vishnukant Singh, Manmeet Singh, Rosan Kujur and Venkatesh Kenche. The forward line consists of Ajeet Yadav, Uttam Singh, Karthi Selvam, Arshdeep Singh and Araijeet Singh Hundal.

The squad's composition reflects the focus on providing opportunities to players emerging through the national development pathway. With a blend of India A experience and Under-21 talent, the coaching staff will have an opportunity to assess how the group handles the demands of international hockey.

Beyond the competitive aspect, the tour celebrates an important milestone in the sporting relationship between India and New Zealand. In 1926, an Indian Army hockey team featuring Major Dhyan Chand toured New Zealand. It was the first team representing India in any sport to visit the country, making the tour a landmark moment in Indian sporting history.

A century later, the Indian men's hockey team returns to New Zealand for a series that connects the sport's historic legacy with its emerging generation. Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey said the tour would celebrate the longstanding sporting friendship while giving young players an opportunity to showcase their potential on the international stage.

The centenary provides an additional dimension to the three-match assignment, bringing together the historical contribution of Indian hockey and the development of future international players.

The New Zealand series comes at a useful time for the Indian coaching staff to evaluate emerging talent in competitive conditions. Rather than being limited to training sessions or domestic performances, the selected players will have three opportunities to demonstrate their abilities against international opposition.

For Fulton, the challenge will be to assess the squad's tactical understanding, adaptability and consistency across the three fixtures. The performances could also provide useful information about which players are ready to take the next step in India's senior hockey setup.

India will be aiming to make the most of the overseas exposure while competing against a strong New Zealand team on its home turf.

With Sanjay leading the side, the three-match series has two clear objectives: celebrating 100 years of sporting ties between India and New Zealand and giving the next generation of Indian men's hockey players a valuable platform to establish themselves internationally.