Vedanta Kalinga Lancers rode on a brilliant brace from Belgian drag-flick specialist Alexander Hendrickx to edge out Ranchi Royals 3-2 in a pulsating final and lift the Men’s Hockey India League (HIL) 2025–26 title at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium on Monday.
Hockey India League 2025–26 Final: Vedanta Kalinga Lancers vs Ranchi Royals
Playing in front of a packed home crowd, the Lancers took an early lead as Hendrickx converted a penalty corner in the fourth minute with a powerful low drag-flick. Ranchi Royals did not take much time to respond as Araijeet Singh Hundal (9’), who controlled a precise aerial pass from Yashdeep Siwach fired past goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak to level the scores.
Dilpreet Singh restored the Lancers’ lead in the 25th minute, reacting quickest to a rebound after Suraj Karkera saved Hendrickx’s initial effort. Two minutes later, Hendrickx struck again, sending a high, angled drag-flick into the top corner to give the Lancers a commanding 3-1 lead at half-time.
Ranchi Royals dominated possession after the break and mounted relentless attacks, earning multiple penalty corners. Pathak, however, stood tall with a series of crucial saves. Royals captain Tom Boon finally reduced the margin with a penalty-corner conversion in the 59th minute, but the late surge fell short as the Lancers held on for a famous victory.
The win marked Vedanta Kalinga Lancers’ second HIL title, having previously lifted the trophy in 2017, and capped a remarkable turnaround after finishing sixth last season.
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After the final, Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey said, “Hockey India League is the World’s best league. The top players of the top team in the World played in this league. This has been a great platform for young players. The Odisha government provided a lot of support for this tournament.”
Also Read: Top Five Hockey Players Known for Drag Flick Mastery
Hockey India League 2025–26: How much did the champions earned?
Champions Kalinga Lancers received INR 3 crore in prize money, while runners-up Ranchi Royals took home INR 2 crore. Hyderabad Toofans claimed third place with a 4-3 win over HIL GC and earned INR 1 crore.
