~ From being inspired by the movie Chak De India to earning a spot in the National Coaching Camp/Indian team, Lalage is ready to make his speed and skills count on the world stage ~
New Delhi, February 3, 2026: For Aditya Arjun Lalage, the journey from Pune’s Krida Prabodhini’s turf to the international hockey stage was defined by hard work. Aditya made his senior debut against Germany in the 2024 Test series and after honing his skills over the past two years, he is ready to regain his place. Aditya has now been selected for the 33-member Senior Men National Coaching Camp in Rourkela and is looking forward to a strong comeback ahead of the FIH Men’s Pro League 2025-26.
Aditya’s return to the national team is not just about getting selected; it’s about showing how much he’s grown. Looking back on his time away from the first team, he emphasizes his focus on learning and improving his attacking game.
“In these two years, I learned by looking at the seniors and asking them where I needed to improve,” says Aditya. “I concentrated more on attacking, especially on scoring goals inside the ‘D’. There were separate sessions for attackers, and I practiced that well.”
Aditya’s start in hockey did not take place on the field, but in a cinema. As a student in second standard, watching Shah Rukh Khan’s Chak De! India led to a dream that would shape his life. It was not only the victory that moved him, but also the power of teamwork.
“I watched the whole film and thought, ‘I want to play for India too,’” he recalls. “My favorite scene was the last game where the attackers, who were not talking to each other before, finally passed the ball to each other to score the winning goal. That passion came to me then and I decided that all I had to do was play hockey.”
He was initially selected for the state hostel in Pune (Krida Prabodhini) for his 800m running skills, but Aditya chose hockey over other sports. Under the guidance of Olympian Ajit Lakra, he grew from a young talent to a tactical player, eventually playing a key role in India’s gold medal triumph at the FIH Junior Asia Cup in Oman and the FIH Junior World Cup in Kuala Lumpur in 2023.
The recently concluded Hero Hockey India League (HIL) was a great learning experience for him. Aditya played for the SG Pipers and played alongside international stars, gaining experience that boosted his confidence. He specifically credits his interactions with Argentine striker Tomas Domene.
“I spoke to Tommy (Domene) about his routine. He told me, ‘Your speed is good, your skills are good. If you go into the D, make PCs (penalty corners) and shoot on goal, you can score more goals,’ says Aditya. “Playing with international stars I learned about their mentality – how they deal with mistakes and reset during a match.”
Coming from a state that has produced legends like Dhanraj Pillay and the Walmiki brothers, Aditya knows the legacy he carries with him. He grew up idolizing Pillay and attended camps organized by Yuvraj and Devindar Walmiki, listening to their advice on dealing with pressure.
Today, he finds support in the national camp from senior strikers like Abhishek. “Abishek bhai helps me a lot. He says to me: ‘Don’t take tension, play freely.’ His help has been enormous to me.”
As the Indian team prepares to take on top teams like Argentina and Belgium in Rourkela, Aditya is clear about his role. He brings speed, the ability to win penalty corners and the hunger to prove himself.
“For me, the message from the coach is clear: use my speed, get the ball to the D and make PCs,” says Aditya. “In every match I have to give 100% for the team, whether it is offensive or defensive.”
For free tickets, visit Ticketgenie’s web portal:https://ticketgenie.in/ticket/FIH-Hockey-Pro-League-2025-26
All India matches of FIH Men’s Pro League 2025-26 Rourkela match will be telecast on Star Sports Khel