HIL: Tamil Nadu Dragons enter with a strong attacking core – Preview, Squad

The Hockey India League is all set to return to screens following a seven-year-long hiatus. The premier franchise-based competition is slated to commence with the men's event on December 28 before the inaugural women's event of the league is held on January 12.

While a total of eight teams will compete in the men's league, the women's competition will see four teams in action.

The teams were formed following an intense three-day auction in October with team owners splurging lakhs of rupees to get themselves battle-ready.

With the renewed HIL just days away, we take a look at how the Tamil Nadu Dragons stacks up ahead of the season:

Tamil Nadu Dragons Squad

There was nothing flashy in the way Tamil Nadu Dragons went about their business during the 2024 Hockey India League auction. They did not splurge extremely on individual players but have still managed to emerge with a dangerous squad.

Their most expensive player – Dutchman Jip Jansen – was the fifth most expensive buy of the auction for Rs 54 lakh. A solid defender and one of the finest exponents of drag-flick in the world, Jansen led the Netherlands to the Olympic gold in Paris earlier this year. 

The 27-year-old Jansen will be joined by Indian veteran and two-time Olympic medallist Amit Rohidas at Rs 48 lakh in what is a very dependable defensive unit with the likes of German youngster Moritz Ludwig, and Indians Kothajit Singh, Pruthvi GM, and Y Anand in the mix.

They have managed to steal Australian midfielder Blake Grovers for just Rs 27 lakh, who will have his national teammate Tom Craig to accompany him in playmaking. Add to that the Indian international Mohammed Raheel, Britain's Thomas Sorsby, and young guns like Chandan Yadav, Shesha Gowda, and others to make it an impressive line-up.

Karthi Selvam will bring in the local flavour for the Dragons in the frontline and will have the young Uttam Singh and the dangerous Nathan Ephramus for the company as forwards.

The 36-year-old Irishman David Harte was the top goalkeeper choice from the Dragons for Rs 32 lakh and it would be interesting to see if he takes the post or the team bets on either of the young Indian bloods in Prince Deep Singh and Arasu Senthamizh. 

Goalkeepers: David Harte, Arasu Senthamizh, Prince Deep Singh

Defenders: Jip Jansen, Kothajit Singh, Anand Lakra, GM Pruthvi, Moritz Ludwig, Anand Y, Amit Rohidas

Midfielders: Chandan Yadav, Blake Grovers, Thomas Sorsby, Shesha Gowda, Dhilipan M, Arun J, Tom Craig,  Mohammed Raheel

Forwards: Karthi Selvam, Uttam Singh, Ganesh Majji, Abharan Sudev, Nathan Ephramus 

Strength and Weakness

It is hard to look past the Tamil Nadu Dragons' attacking strength. They have Grovers and Craig in the midfield to link-up with Ephramus in the front. That's Australia's top players right up there. The Indian core of Raheel, Selvam, and Uttam are no pushovers either with the trio within touching distance of becoming national team regulars. 

Keep in mind that the Dragons also have Jansen, who can fire in drag flicks one after the other into the net, and you know scoring goals would not be an issue for the Charles Group-owned team.

The likes of Jansen, Grovers, Craig, Ephramus, and Harte are all world-class players but what happens even if one of them picks up an unfortunate injury? Do the Dragons have enough bench strength as backup to step in? This remains their only real weakness.

Tamil Nadu Dragons Fixtures

29 December: Tamil Nadu Dragons v/s Soorma Hockey Club

3 January: Tamil Nadu Dragons v/s Kalinga Lancers

5 January: Tamil Nadu Dragons v/s UP Rudras

8 January: Tamil Nadu Dragons v/s Team Gonasika

10 January: Tamil Nadu Dragons v/s Bengal Tigers

13 January: Tamil Nadu Dragons v/s Delhi SG Pipers

18 January: Tamil Nadu Dragons v/s Hyderabad Toofans

23 January: Tamil Nadu Dragons v/s Hyderabad Toofans

25 January: Tamil Nadu Dragons v/s Team Gonasika

29 January: Tamil Nadu Dragons v/s UP Rudras