Ipoh, November 22, 2025: The Indian men’s hockey team is gearing up to start their Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025 campaign from November 23 to 30 in Ipoh, Malaysia. Having won the tournament five times, India are the second most successful team in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup and are set to make their first appearance in the tournament since 2019 when they finished as runners-up.
The upcoming tournament will be the 31st edition of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup, considered one of the most prestigious invitational hockey tournaments in the world. This year’s edition will see India, Belgium, Canada, Korea, New Zealand and hosts Malaysia compete against each other in a round-robin format, with the top two teams qualifying for the finals.
Led by captain Sanjay, Team India will start their campaign against Korea on November 23. They will then face Belgium on November 24, Malaysia on November 26 and New Zealand on November 27, before concluding their league phase against Canada on November 29.
As Team India prepares for the 2026 FIH Men’s Hockey World Cup and the 2026 Asian Games next year, this tournament provides an opportunity for competitive preparation and testing of new combinations.
The squad consists of Pawan and Mohith HS as goalkeepers, while the defensive unit consists of Poovanna Chandura Boby, Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Yashdeep Siwach, Jugraj Singh, Amit Rohidas and captain Sanjay.
Rajinder Singh, Raj Kumar Pal, Nilakanta Sharma, Rabichandra Singh Moirangthem, Vivek Sagar Prasad and Mohammed Raheel Mouseen will be present in the midfield, while Sukhjeet Singh, Shilanand Lakra, Selvam Karthi, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Dilpreet Singh and Abhishek will lead the attack for India.
Ahead of the tournament, Craig Fulton’s Indian team underwent an extensive training camp in Bengaluru. Speaking about the team’s preparations, Captain Sanjay said, “We have made thorough preparations in the run-up to the tournament, focusing on certain areas that we have identified. This competitive tournament gives us an opportunity to test ourselves against strong international opponents and we are ready to hit the ground running.”
“There is a good mix of youth and experience in the squad and the energy within the group is positive. Our preparation has helped everyone understand their roles and responsibilities. Now our focus is on delivering consistent performances and challenging for the title,” he concluded.
All matches of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2025 will be broadcast live on FanCode from November 23 to 30.