India name Asian Champions Trophy hockey squad; young Lakra, Lalage get another shot

Hockey India on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, named an 18-member men's squad, plus two reserves, for the Asian Champions Trophy, which will be played in Jalandhar and Mohali, Punjab, from October 27 to November 5, 2026. Harmanpreet Singh, who captained India to gold at the Asian Games in Japan, will lead the team. The squad largely keeps the Asian Games core, but young defender Amandeep Lakra and midfielder Aditya Arjun Lalage have been given another opportunity to establish themselves in the senior side, and goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak returns.

For young hockey players, a call-up for a home tournament is a chance to perform in front of big crowds and in a squad full of Olympic and Asian Games medallists. Amandeep Lakra and Aditya Lalage have been on the fringes of the senior team, and this selection gives them more minutes to prove they belong. In a squad built around experienced names such as Harmanpreet, Manpreet Singh, Hardik Singh and Amit Rohidas, every chance to play matters for the next generation.

Chief coach Craig Fulton framed the squad as a mix of old and new. "This squad blends youth with experience, and we cannot wait to feed off the home crowd," he said, adding that playing the tournament in Punjab "will be something special". Punjab is the heartland of Indian hockey and has produced many of the country's players, so a home event there is likely to draw strong crowds and inspire young players watching from the stands.

The Asian Champions Trophy brings together the continent's top teams. Coming soon after India's Asian Games gold, it is a test of whether the team can keep its standard high and use the event to build depth. The return of Pathak also gives the coach two options in goal.

For aspiring players, the selection shows the pathway clearly. The junior teams have been winning at age-group level, and the senior coaches are now giving young players time in competitive tournaments. Performances in Jalandhar and Mohali could decide who stays in the senior setup for the bigger events ahead.

Short-term: India will play six-team matches in Punjab from October 27, with young players Lakra and Lalage looking to cement their spots.

Long-term: Giving young players experience in home tournaments helps build depth for future Asian Games, World Cup and Olympic campaigns.

Who is affected: India's men's hockey players and coaches, young hockey players hoping for national selection, and fans in Punjab and across India.

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