Hockey India League 2026 Mini Auctions Start Tomorrow as World's Top Players Go Under Hammer

Image Credit: Hockey India

The Hockey India League is back on its glorious comeback path once again with the highly awaited mini auctions to be held on September 24 in New Delhi, another turning point in the league's glorious comeback since it started again after a seven year hiatus.

The 2026 season will host eight men's teams and six women's teams vying for the ultimate hockey glory. The men's league includes Delhi SG Pipers, Hyderabad Toofans, Kalinga Lancers, Ranchi Royal Tuskers, Rarh Bengal Tigers, Soorma Hockey Club, and Tamil Nadu Dragons. The women's league includes Delhi SG Pipers, Ranchi Royal Tuskers, Rarh Bengal Tigers, and Soorma Hockey Club, with more teams to be announced.

Interestingly enough, UP Rudras and Team Gonasika are pulling out of the tournament for financial issues, paving the way for Ranchi Royal Tuskers to debut as the league's newest franchise to play men's and women's categories.

Beginning at 10:30 AM with men followed by women, more than 200 players will be on offer in three base price segments, ₹2 lakhs, ₹5 lakhs, and ₹10 lakhs. The salary caps continue to be ₹4 crores for men's teams and ₹2 crores for women's teams, while the team sizes are decreased from 24 to 20 players with 2 keepers and 18 outfield players. A team can have a maximum of seven foreign recruits and should have three Indian juniors.

Tier one players who are entering the auction pool are India vice captain Hardik Singh, forward Lalit Upadhyay, who retired from India, England's Sam Ward, and Belgium's Tanguy Cosyns, after their previous teams exited the auction.

Hockey India League has a well rooted history since 2013, when it was first launched as India's top professional hockey league. Ranchi Rhinos won the first championship by beating Delhi Waveriders 2-1. The league during its initial five years had various champions such as Delhi Waveriders in 2014, Ranchi Rays in 2015, Punjab Warriors in 2016, and Kalinga Lancers in 2017.

Having struggled with finance and lack of cooperation from the owners of the teams, HIL was suspended in 2017. But Hockey India was able to organize the return of the league to tremendous success in 2024-25 under President Dilip Tirkey's tenure by including the women's competition for the first time. The comeback season proved thunderously successful with defending men's title champions Rarh Bengal Tigers thrashing Hyderabad Toofans 4-3 in a gasping finish, while Odisha Warriors won the first women's title.

The resurrection of the league has been of paramount importance for Indian hockey, introducing native players to the much needed spotlight alongside overseas stars and fueling the popularity of the game back home. More than 32.9 million spectators watched the 2024-25 season, proving the popularity of HIL anew.

While franchises get ready to do battle tomorrow, the Hockey India League 2026 will be set to stay on its path as one of India's top sporting events, bringing together internationally ranked players with passion and strategy that make hockey so thrilling to witness.