When Vedanta Limited announced they would take over complete ownership of Kalinga Lancers, it made this team the only franchise with continuity of heritage in the upcoming edition of the Hero Hockey India League. Having featured from 2014-17 and having lifted the title in Chandigarh, this ensures they will look to defend their crown against newcomers at their home venue in Rourkela.
This team has blended their squad with star value, supporting staff, and adequate superstars, and home-grown talent ensures it’s a competitive team ready to defend their title and give their home fans a spectacle with the game. Here in this preview, we will dissect each profile.
Goalkeeping
Kalinga Lancers have assembled three quality goalkeepers who bring good elements of shot-stopping and reflexes to the team. This setup ensures there is quality and rotation across different quarters, providing adequate rest and maintaining focus throughout the match.
Tobias Reynolds Corterill has exhibited good shot-stopping qualities from narrow angles, despite the Wales defensive line often being exposed to threats from all corners of the circle. He is renowned for trusting his reflexes and his quick dives to cover the goal posts. As a top figure for the Wales hockey team, he has managed to keep scores respectable with his experience in the European hockey circuit.
Krishan Pathak has become India’s number one goalkeeper following PR Sreejesh’s retirement. He is known for his quick reflexes and positioning, ensuring he is very responsive from close angles and proactive in his approach. Kalinga Lancers have two of the most reliable shot-stoppers in their team.
Sahil Kumar Nayak, having been part of the Odisha team that won the Nationals in Tamil Nadu, has proven to be a dependable figure in their title run. During penalty shootouts, he is known for his quick reactions, space coverage, and his ability to chase down dribblers, which can intimidate opponents. He now has the opportunity to further elevate his skills as a goalkeeper, learning from two international-level goalkeepers alongside him.
Defence:
The defensive strategy of Kalinga Lancers revolves around the robust qualities of their defenders. These players are capable of pinching forward, showing versatility, and contributing with quality drag flicks. They are also adept at passing to change the passage of play and are good readers of movement within the circle. The team’s alignment has focused on honing these traits, including among the home-grown recruits.
Arthur Van Doren and Alexander Hendrickx have been central figures for the Belgium national team. Alexander is primarily known for his drag flicker, but his positional play enhances the team’s defensive framework.
Arthur Van Doren and Alexander are key in initiating play. Van Doren often operates on the left-hand side, advancing as a wingback, and occasionally switches roles with Hendrickx, who can then assume a central defender role or play as a right wing-back. Van Doren is noted for his ability to switch play, employing aerial passes for diagonal ball movement or advancing with the ball himself.
Off the ball, Van Doren effectively blocks passing lanes and is adept at counter-pressing to prevent opponents from entering the shooting circle. Hendrickx, conversely, holds a deeper position within the circle. This dynamic can serve as a valuable learning opportunity for players like Sushil Dhanwar, particularly in understanding positional play and the timing of counter-presses.
Partap Lakra has been part of the Odisha team that lifted the National title in 2024, typically aligns on the left with Dipsan Tirkey. He is more recognized for his defensive capabilities, focusing on blocking angles and methodical pressing rather than aggressive tackles, which reflects his seasoned approach on the field.
Rohit Kullu has established himself as a penalty corner specialist for Odisha in the Junior Nationals, also serving as the first rusher for his teammates. He has shown positional awareness within the circle, knowing when to engage in tackles.
Sanjay Rana and Mandeep Mor bring their experience from the Indian National Team to Kalinga Lancers. Sanjay Rana is dynamic, particularly on the right wingback, where his acceleration, ball retention, and defensive insight, including last-ditch tackles, are . In Kalinga, he will likely lead the defense. Mandeep Mor, on the other hand, excels as a left wingback, known for his powerful shots and for coming forward. Both Indian Nationals are going to add dynamism to the already robust Kalinga defense.
Midfield:
Kalinga Lancers’ midfield is defined by its robust and dynamic players who emphasize defensive shielding, utility in ball carrying, and unpredictable movements. The focus on home-grown talent aligns with the team’s overarching principle of building a cohesive unit that operates with a shared philosophy.
Mukesh Toppo serves as a midfield general for Odisha at the junior level. Positioned centrally, he surveys the field, identifying and exploiting dangerous areas. His adeptness at executing line-breaking passes is notable.
He often positions himself outside the circle during offensive plays to control transition. His insight is in his smart tackling and his ability to delay opposition’s forward movements.
Rosan Kujur has played for India in an advanced position, but he has exhibited smart positioning outside the circle and is known for making crucial interventions in the Asia Cup finals against Pakistan. Kalinga Lancers will rely on his positioning and all-around utility. He has played a role in dealing against physical opponents.
Dilpreet Singh, one of the Tokyo Bronze Medallists, is a dynamic player with profiles that can feature on both midfield and the front-line. His mobility and quick pace of action allow him to initiate plays effectively. He brings directness into the game, and his reaction time towards goals has been tremendous, given his position in front of goal.
Enrique Gonzalez, Aran Zalewski, and Antonie Kina are set to contribute multi-dimensional features to the Kalinga Lancers.
Antonie Kina’s movements, both outside and inside the central line, make him a presence on the field. His robust and flexible profile allows him to excel in both wider and central roles. He brings technical superiority to the team and can break the line of defense with his passing. Kina is methodical in his approach, showing the ability to multitask effectively for the team.
Aran Zalewski has been with the Kalinga Lancers since their inaugural season in 2014, taking on a leadership role. He is well-known for his defensive anchoring, often dropping back to the base of defense to collect and distribute the ball, injecting energy into the team’s play. He will mentor the Indian junior talent, Rabichandra Moriangthem, who shares a similar defensive profile, helping him to anchor and shield the defense against aggressive pressing of forwards.
Enrique Gonzalez mirrors Aran Zalewski’s defensive approach but positions himself higher up the field. He is primarily a dangerous ball carrier, especially effective during transitional movements when he finds a passage to exploit. He has a prime affection for the tomahawk shot during offensive plays.
Forwards:
The front line of Kalinga Lancers features a variety of players, including prodigies from the Indian National camps. These players bring different dynamics to the game, from selfless play to create space in the circle, good positioning within the circle, and providing ball retention qualities. The presence of star players adds value to this position, the team’s offensive capabilities.
Deepak Pradhan has shown qualities as a ball carrier. His dribbling is by speed and unpredictability, allowing him to maintain possession even against the physical nature of Punjab at junior levels. He has scored 5 field goals for Odisha in the Junior Nationals. Deepak’s work ethic is in his proactive approach to circle pressing and his role as a first-line pressing agent.
Boby Singh Dhami and Angad Bir Singh are two of the clever profiles to emerge from the junior ranks. They are known for their ability to impose an occupation in territory and manipulate defenders when receiving the ball as forwards. Boby Singh Dhami is renowned for building good synergy from the front line, showing selflessness in front of goals, and possessing good link-up traits; he is known for making key passes to his teammates in the circle.
Meanwhile, Angad Bir Singh has excellent on-ball receiving skills in the circle, maintaining composure in tight spaces, and isn’t afraid to use aerial dribbles to bypass closing defenders. His positioning skills allow him to rotate through all positions as a central forward, traits also exhibited by the veteran Roshan Minz.
Gurusahibjit Singh also features as a holder of the first line of press, defensive work rate with good positioning in front of goals for deflections and rebounds.
Nick Bandurak is a superstar central forward, a modern archetype forward who has imposing traits, with dominant physical traits and a plethora of tricks to maneuver against the defensive line. He possesses a powerful drag flick, adding to Kalinga’s set-piece capabilities during penalty corners, alongside the established Alexander Hendrickx.
Theirry Brinkman is another superstar profile for Kalinga Lancers, renowned for his underlapping skills and building good synergy inside the central line with his Dutch national teammate, Thijis Van Dam. He adds good ball carrying abilities and technical superiority as an inside forward. Brinkman’s technical attributes enable him to score wonderful yet decisive goals in front of the goal.
Nick Bandurak and Theirry Brinkman are both capable of carrying the team’s front line by themselves, with their burst of dynamic pace and skills.
Coaching staff:
Valentine Altenburg: The 2016 Rio Olympics Bronze medallist coach, is renowned for his methodological approach to adapt against different kinds of opponents. His approach will add good variety in coaching, allowing the team to play in different gears with a structured approach.
David John: Associated with Indian Hockey since 2011, initially as a physiotherapist, which helped India achieve remarkable fitness improvements. He has also served as a high-performance director and interim coach in the absence of a head coach. John has extensive knowledge of the Indian hockey ecosystem and is known for adapting to different coaching philosophies.
He notably adapted to Craig Fulton’s methodologies and implemented that style against Germany and Australia in 2023 with the assistance of BJ Kariappa. BJ Kariappa and AB Subbia have a prime role in scouting the required profiles from both the state and national levels, ensuring Kalinga Lancers have access to the best emerging talents that fit the team’s needs.
This ensures there is quality in the backroom staff who understand a lot about the Indian Hockey ecosystem and how to maximize the resources available to the team.
Squad
Goalkeepers: Krishan Bahadur Pathak, Tobias Reynolds-Cotterill, Sahil Kumar Nayak
Defenders: Alexander Hendrickx,Antoine Kina,Arthur Van Doren,Mandeep Mor,Partap Lakra,Rohit Kullu,Sanjay, Sushil Dhanwar
Midfielders: Aran Zalewski (Captain),Enrique González,Mukesh Toppo,Nicholas Bandurak,Rabichandra Moirangthem,Rosan Kujur
Forwards: Angad Bir Singh, Boby Singh Dhami, Deepak Pradhan,Dilpreet Singh,Gursahibjit Singh, Roshan Minz, Thierry Brinkman
Schedule
- December 31, 2024 – Vedanta Kalinga Lancers vs. UP Rudras
- January 3, 2025 – Tamil Nadu Dragons vs. Vedanta Kalinga Lancers
- January 5, 2025 – Soorma Hockey Club vs. Vedanta Kalinga Lancers
- January 7, 2025 – Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers vs. Vedanta Kalinga Lancers
- January 9, 2025 – Team Gonasika vs. Vedanta Kalinga Lancers
- January 12, 2024 – Vedanta Kalinga Lancers vs. Hyderabad Toofans
- January 16, 2025 – Delhi SG Pipers vs. Vedanta Kalinga Lancers
- January 19, 2025 – Delhi SG Pipers vs. Vedanta Kalinga Lancers
- January 26, 2025 – Vedanta Kalinga Lancers vs. Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers
- January 30, 2025 – Vedanta Kalinga Lancers vs. Soorma Hockey Club
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