HIL 2024-25: All about Hyderabad Toofans squad

The much-anticipated Hockey India League (HIL) is set to return this month, starting December 28 in Rourkela. A total of eight teams will compete in the competition and Hyderabad Toofans is one of the teams to watch out for in the upcoming edition of HIL.

Hyderabad assembled a decent team at the auction, that took place this year in October. Indian national team players Nilakanta Sharma and Sumit were the key buys, with the franchise splurging Rs 34 lakh and Rs 46 lakh on them, respectively. The duo will certainly be key for the team in the entire tournament.

Argentina’s defender Gonzalo Peillat is their most expensive pick at the auction having spent a whopping Rs 68 lakh. He has also been named the captain of the team. He was the vital cog in Argentina’s historic triumph at the 2016 Rio Olympics, finishing as the top-scorer. Later, he switched his nationality and made his international debut for Germany in 2022. The very next year, he won the World Cup in India.

Matthew Dawson and Arthur De Sloover are the other foreign defenders in the Toofans squad. Shilanand Lakra, Arshdeep Singh, and Talwinder Singh form a formidable attack for the Hyderabad side as they were picked for Rs 21 lakh, 11.5 lakh and 14.5 lakh respectively at the auction.

Who is Hyderabad Toofan's goalkeeper?

The Hyderabad-based franchise have invested Rs 27 lakh on German goalkeeper Jean-Paul Danneberg, who will most likely start in the playing XI in most of the matches. Apart from him, they have also secured the services of Bikramjit Singh and Vikas Dahiya as the backup options. 

Overall, the team comprised 24 players as the Hyderabad Toofans will look to make a mark under Gonzalo Peillat. They will open their campaign against Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers on December 29. As for the format, the Toofans and other seven teams will play a total of 10 matches before the top four teams advance to the semifinals.

Here’s Hyderabad Toofans squad: 

Defenders: Gonzalo Peillat (Rs 68 lakh), Matthew Dawson (Rs 10 lakh), Arthur De Sloover (Rs 30 lakh), Devindar Sunil Valmiki (Rs 8 lakh), Amandeep Lakra (Rs 9 lakh), Sundaram Rajawat (Rs 2 lakh)

Midfielders: Nilakanta Sharma (Rs 34 lakh), Sumit (Rs 46 lakh), Zachary Wallace (Rs 26 lakh), Rahim Aakib Sayyed (Rs 2 lakh), Rajinder (Rs 23 lakh), Darshan Vibhav Gawkar (Rs 2 lakh)

Forwards: Shilanand Lakra (Rs 21 lakh), Timothy Daniel (Rs 28 lakh), Terrance Pieters (Rs 10 lakh), Arshdeep Singh (Rs. 11.5 lakh), Talwinder Singh (Rs 14.5 lakh)

Goalkeepers: Jean Paul Danneberg (Rs 27 lakh), Bikramjit Singh (Rs 6.2 lakh), Vikas Dahiya (Rs 2 lakh)