The Hindu: Ranchi to host semifinal, final of HIL 2016

Hockey India League (HIL), the flagship event of Hockey India, is scheduled to be played across six venues in the country starting January 18.

Defending champions Ranchi Rays will play host to the semifinals and final of the fourth edition of the Coal India Hockey India League on February 20 and 21 respectively at the Birsa Mumnda hockey stadium.

The Hockey India League (HIL), the flagship event of Hockey India, is scheduled to be played across six venues in the country starting January 18.

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 title holders Ranchi Rays, co-owned by India limited overs cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

The opening match of the tournament will be played between Kalinga Lancers, who made the biggest buy of the season in German Moritz Fuerste and Uttar Pradesh Wizards, who were able to draft in young Indian forward Akashdeep Singh.

The tournament opener will be staged in Bhubaneshwar.

Defending champions Ranchi Rays will open their campaign against last year’s runners-up Jaypee Punjab Warriors in Chandigarh on January 19.

Schedule:

Monday, Jan 18: 18.00 Hrs KL vs UPW in Bhubaneshwar.

Tuesday, Jan 19: 18.00 Hrs JPW vs RR in Chandigarh.

Wednesday, Jan 20: 18.00 Hrs JPW vs DWR in Chandigarh.

Thursday, Jan 21: 18.00 Hrs KL vs DM in Bhubaneshwar.

Friday, Jan 22: 18.00 Hrs UPW vs RR in Lucknow.

Saturday, Jan 23: 18.00 Hrs UPW vs DWR in Lucknow.

Sunday, Jan 24: 18.00 Hrs JPW vs DM in Chandigarh.

Monday, Jan 25: 18.00 Hrs UPW vs KL in Lucknow.

Tuesday, Jan 26: 18.00 Hrs RR vs DWR in Ranchi.

Thursday, Jan 28 18.00 Hrs RR vs KL in Ranchi.

Friday, Jan 29: 18.00 Hrs DM vs DWR in Mumbai.

Saturday, Jan 30: 18.00 Hrs RR vs JPW in Ranchi.

Sunday, Jan 31: 18.00 Hrs DM vs KL in Mumbai.

Monday, Feb 1: 18.00 Hrs DWR vs UPW in Delhi.

Tuesday, Feb 2: 18.00 Hrs DWR vs JPW in Delhi.

Wednesday, Feb 3: 18.00 Hrs DM vs RR in Mumbai.

Thursday, Feb 4: 18.00 Hrs JPW vs UPW in Chandigarh.

Friday, Feb 5: 18.00 Hrs KL vs DWR in Bhubaneshwar.

Saturday, Feb 6: 18.00 Hrs UPW vs DM in Lucknow.

Sunday, Feb 7: 18.00 Hrs KL vs JPW in Bhubaneshwar.

Monday, Feb 8: 18.00 KL vs RR in Bhubaneshwar.

Tuesday, Feb 9: 18.00 DWR vs DM in Delhi.

Wednesday, Feb 10: 18.00 UPW vs JPW in Lucknow.

Thursday, Feb 11: 18.00 DWR vs RR in Delhi.

Friday, Feb 12: 18.00 Hrs DM vs JPW in Mumbai.

Saturday, Feb 13: 18.00 Hrs RR vs UPW in Ranchi.

Sunday, Feb 14: 18.00 Hrs RR vs DM in Ranchi.

Monday, Feb 15: 18.00 Hrs JPW vs KL in Chandigarh.

Tuesday, Feb 16: 18.00 Hrs DM vs UPW in Mumbai.

Wednesday, Feb 17: 18.00 DWR vs KL in Delhi.

Thursday, Feb 18: Rest Day.

Friday, Feb 19: Rest Day.

Saturday: Feb 20: 15.00 Hrs 1st Semifinal: Team 1 vs Team 4 in Ranchi.

17.30 Hrs 2nd Semifinal: Team 2 vs Team 3 in Ranchi.

Sunday: Feb 21: 15.00 Hrs 3rd-4th place play-off match in Ranchi.

17.30 Hrs Final in Ranchi.