The Hindu: Top Indian stars add colour to 2016 HIL
Sardar Singh, who moved from Delhi Waveriders to Jaypee Punjab Warriors, will be one of the key players to watch out for.
Some of the big names of Indian hockey will be seen in action in the fourth Hockey India League (HIL) to be held across six different venues in the country from January 18 to February 21.
Two-time finalists Jaypee Punjab Warriors have retained some of their key players in the auctions last year and one of the most prominent Indian stars among them are SV Sunil.
Sunil was a part of the Hockey World League bronze medal winning Indian team. He has 174 international caps and 56 international goals. The 26-year-old was retained for a sum of $50,000.
India captain Sardar Singh, who moved from Delhi Waveriders to Jaypee Punjab Warriors, will be one of the key players to watch out for.
The star midfielder has led the national team to many famous victories and has an experience of 236 international caps with 14 international goals to his credit.
Sardar bagged a price of $58,000 in the auction.
Drag-flicker V.R. Raghunath will be another player to watch out for. He will turn out for Uttar Pradesh Wizards and has an impressive record of 203 international caps and 127 international goals to his credit.
Ever-dependable and hard working Birendra Lakra will be a key player for defending champions Ranchi Rays. The 25-year-old defender has 123 international caps and nine international goals to his credit till date.
Lakra was retained by the franchise for a sum of $55,000 alongside Fergus Kavanagh from Australia will be looking to put of the similar robust at the backline for Ranchi Rays.
India vice-captain and goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh will be guarding the goal of Uttar Pradesh Wizards and will be a force to reckon with in this edition of HIL.
Sreejesh is amongst the top goalkeepers in the world is in the prime of his form with an excellent display at the Hockey World League Finals in December.
The combination of Raghunath and Sreejesh can be lethal in the defence and will be one of the biggest assets for the Uttar Pradesh Wizards.
The six franchises battling for supremacy in the richest field hockey league in the world are Jaypee Punjab Warriors, Delhi Waveriders, Kalinga Lancers, Uttar Pradesh Wizards, Dabang Mumbai and defending champions Ranchi Rays.