Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers' HIL foray: A vision for hockey's future in India

The Hockey India League (HIL) is poised for its much-anticipated return. And for Bengal-based Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers, the idea behind their participation is as much about the game as it is about the future of sports in India.

"We come from a background of real estate with more than 30 years of exprience," Tamal Ghosal, co-owner of the franchise, told The Bridge. "But we were very keen, looking at the way sports has evolved in this country. India has moved from being a sports-watching nation to a sports-playing nation."

Shrachi's engagement with Indian sports is not new. With investments in ISL club Mohammedan Sporting and cricket - Shrachi owning a franchise in the Bengal Pro T20 League, their foray into hockey seemed like a natural progression.

"We felt that we should make an imprint on hockey because it is the national sport of India," said Ghosal when asked about their venture into hockey. 

"When Hockey India came out with the bidding process for franchises, we saw this as a great opportunity to expand our portfolio and support the growth of hockey in India," he added.

Shrachi's ambitions go beyond just fielding a competitive team in the HIL. "The team is only one part of the exercise. This league also leads to the creation of a coaching system for youth. We have a coaching brand called ATHLEAD, and we wanted to add hockey to our existing programmes in football and cricket," said Ghosal.

Infrastructure is key

Ghosal hails India’s current standing in international hockey.

"We have won two back-to-back bronze medals in the Olympics. We all felt that we should have made it to the final and won the gold medal. We are one of the best teams, but that is sport," stated Ghosal.

However, he has also called for the upgradation of the infrastructure and professed India should take a cue from states like Jharkhand and Odisha who invested heavily in hockey for the development of the game.

"Hockey needs an Astroturf, which is expensive. But states like Jharkhand and Odisha have shown what is possible with the right intent, planning and investment. Odisha, in particular, adopted the Indian hockey team and built stadiums and infrastructure across the state," stated Ghosal.

The revival of HIL - founded in 2013 and last held in 2017 - is expected to bridge this infrastructural gap in Indian hockey.

"This league is an opportunity to roll out infrastructure across the country, which is very important. If local talent gets access to quality facilities, they can rise to national and international levels," observed Ghosal.

Building a strong ecosystem

Talking about the HIL’s impact, Ghosal said, it will not be limited to infrastructure alone.

"The league will have eight men’s franchises and four women’s franchises. These teams will become part of a larger ecosystem. With the matches being televised on Sony and DD, people will come back to watch hockey. Once you see and like something, you feel interested to be part of it," said Ghosal. 

This focus on visibility, development, and infrastructure is critical. "We hope this will create more coaching infrastructure and help unravel new talent. Our coaching brand ATHLEAD forms a very important part of our sports stratgey, which is about coaching young people across age groups in various sports," elaborated Ghosal.

The road ahead

Sharing his experience of setting up the franchise, Ghosal said, "We have had teams in cricket and football before. In a way, that experience helped us a lot. But Hockey India, on their part, has done a phenomenal job with the auction and player selection process. The communication has been great, and now we’re moving into the operational stage."

With a strong squad of both international and domestic players at their disposal, there are high expectations for Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers. 

"We have got excellent players and eminent individuals in our coaching staff. We got former India player Rupinder Pal Singh, one of the greatest dragflickers, in our team," said Ghosal.

Reflecting on the coaching team, he said, "Our men's team is coached by Colin Batch, and Deepak Thakur is his assistant. The women's team, on the other hand, is coached by Glenn Turner and assisted by former India goalkeeper Adrian D'Souza . But In the end, sports is about teamwork. The coaches will play a key role in bringing the team together as a cohesive unit," said Ghosal.

'Come and enjoy the league'

As the HIL sets for the kick-off on December 28, Ghosal's message to the based Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers players is clear: "Come and enjoy the league. Build relationships within the team because that matters."

To the fans, he extends an invitation: "Come out and support us. Even though there are no matches in Bengal this time, watch the games."

To build engagement with the fans, the franchise has already planned various activities like screenings and selling merchandise.

For Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers, Ghosal said, the HIL is more than a competition. It is about contributing to the future of hockey and ensuring that India’s national game continues to thrive in the global arena.