HIL 2024-25: All about UP Rudras captain Hardik Singh

A lineage that has passed sporting brilliance across generations gifted India the unmatched talent of Hardik Singh. Once serving as a ball boy on the sidelines of the Hockey India League (HIL), Hardik will now captain his team as the tournament returns after seven years. UP Rudras opted for the skilled midfielder as their skipper after splurging ₹70 lakhs in the HIL 2024-25 auction. In their bid to secure top Indian players, UP made Hardik the third costliest buy in the auction, ranking after Indian men’s hockey team captain Harmanpreet Singh and Abhishek Nain. As UP Rudras built a formidable side to compete in the revived tournament, they were quick to identify Hardik as the leader among other senior picks.

From ball boy to a captain, The splendid tale of Hardik Singh in the Hockey India League

UP Rudras completed a seamless task in the 2024-25 HIL auction, clinching Indian midfielder Hardik Singh for ₹70 lakhs. Singh played an integral role in India’s victory at the 2024 Paris Olympics. Moreover, the 26-year-old has been a part of the squad during both Olympic seasons when India secured the bronze medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and most recently in Paris. However, these recent accolades are preceded by a time when Hardik Singh admired hockey greats like Mark Knowles and Sardar Singh in Mohali as a ball boy in 2014. The midfielder reflected on that time following the announcement by UP Rudras, which stamped Hardik as their captain.

“I remember it like it was yesterday. It was 2014, in Mohali. I was a ball boy in HIL. Three years later, when I played in HIL, it was a big thing for me. I was sharing the dressing room with the likes of Knowles, Sardar paji. I had a legendary coach in Barry Dancer,” Hardik expressed.

The Paris Olympics witnessed Hardik suffering a concerning injury as India faced Spain for the third position on the podium. Hardik’s left shoulder bore the brunt of a collision with Spain’s Xavier Gispert, forcing him to leave the field early in the fourth quarter. While India celebrated their second consecutive bronze medal victory at the Olympics, Hardik faced uncertainty over his fitness for the season ahead.

The aftermath of the injury caused the player to miss the Asian Champions Trophy and the two-match series against Germany. The injury, marked as an acromioclavicular joint tear in his left shoulder, sidelined him from sports for almost four months, much like the hamstring injury he sustained during the 2023 World Cup. However, thanks to a successful rehabilitation phase, Hardik rejoined proceedings ahead of the HIL. The captain of UP Rudras recently led the U25 India squad on their European Tour in the Netherlands. Amidst the tour, Hardik expressed his excitement to play in the HIL and provided updates about his fitness.

“I am 90% fit. When you get injured and are out of the squad, you lose confidence. You need to regain it. This tour is important for me. Though I have been playing matches in training, these matches are more like international games, which also tell me where I am currently game-wise. I need the confidence too before playing HIL,” said the 2023 FIH Player of the Year.

The sixth edition of the Hockey India League is slated to kick off on December 28 in Rourkela. Making its comeback after an extended break of seven years, the HIL will feature eight teams playing across two phases. The first phase is scheduled from December 28 to January 17. The second phase will commence on January 18, with the eight teams divided into two pools of four each. The UP Rudras will face Gonsika, Hyderabad Toofans, and Tamil Nadu Dragons at this stage. The top two teams from each pool will then advance to the HIL semifinals.