Tamil Nadu Dragons will compete against Hyderabad Toofans in the opening match of the Men’s Hockey India League (HIL) at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium in Chennai. This marks the beginning of the second edition of the revived HIL, set to take place in various cities, starting from Chennai, then moving to Ranchi, and concluding in Bhubaneswar with the final on January 26.
The league aims to reach numerous hockey-loving cities to provide fans with the excitement of high-intensity matches featuring top players from around the world. The tournament commences with Accord Tamil Nadu Dragons facing Hyderabad Toofans, with the latter aiming to improve upon their runner-up finish in the previous edition.
Unlike the previous season, this edition will feature a single round-robin stage, with the top four teams progressing to the knockout rounds. The playoffs will see the top two teams competing in Qualifier 1, where the winner advances to the final and the loser moves to Qualifier 2. The second team in Qualifier 2 will be determined by the winner of Eliminator 1, facing the teams ranked 3rd and 4th on the league table.
The Men’s HIL 2025-26 will showcase eight teams, including defending champions Shrachi Bengal Tigers, Hyderabad Toofans, JSW Soorma Hockey Club, SG Pipers, Accord Tamil Nadu Dragons, Vedanta Kalinga Lancers, Ranchi Royals, and HIL GC (formerly UP Rudras).
