Sanjay to Lead Young India Hockey Squad on New Zealand Tour

Sanjay will captain a young Indian men’s hockey team on a three-match tour of New Zealand, with the visitors set to face the hosts in Auckland on November 19, 21 and 22. The tour runs from November 15 to 23 and commemorates 100 years of sporting ties between the two countries.

Hockey India named a 20-member squad featuring a combination of emerging Under-21 players and members of the current India A core. The matches at Lloyd Elsmore Hockey Stadium offer the selected players an international opportunity against New Zealand in home conditions, while also giving India’s support staff a chance to assess the group.

A centenary tour with three Auckland fixtures

India’s visit carries historical significance because it marks a century since the 1926 tour of New Zealand by an Indian Army hockey team. That side, which included Major Dhyan Chand, was the first Indian team from any sport to tour New Zealand.

The 2026 touring side will play all three matches at Lloyd Elsmore Hockey Stadium in Auckland. India take on New Zealand on November 19 before further fixtures on November 21 and November 22.

Chief coach Craig Fulton said the series comes at an important point for a squad built around upcoming players and the India A group. He described New Zealand as solid opposition playing at home and said the three matches would provide a suitable challenge for the selected team.

Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey said the trip would celebrate a century of sporting friendship between India and New Zealand. He also highlighted the opportunity for young players to demonstrate their potential during the international assignment.

Sanjay heads a 20-player group

The squad includes goalkeepers Mohith HS and Pawan. In defence, captain Sanjay is joined by Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Sharda Nand Tiwari, Talem Priyobarta, Anmol Ekka and Yashdeep Siwach.

India’s midfield group consists of Angad Bir Singh, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Rabichandra Singh, Vishnukant Singh, Manmeet Singh, Rosan Kujur and Venkatesh Kenche. The forward line features Ajeet Yadav, Uttam Singh, Karthi Selvam, Arshdeep Singh and Araijeet Singh Hundal.

Sanjay’s appointment places the defender and drag-flicker at the head of a squad designed to blend youth with India A experience. With three matches scheduled in four days, the Auckland series will give the group a concentrated international programme during the commemorative tour.

What the New Zealand series means for India

The tour is significant both for its centenary context and for the development pathway it provides. India have selected a side containing several emerging Under-21 players alongside players from the India A core, rather than presenting the trip solely as a senior international assignment.

For the players involved, the fixtures represent a chance to gain exposure against New Zealand away from home. For the coaching and support staff, the three-match schedule provides an opportunity to evaluate the squad in competitive conditions across successive games.

India’s first match against New Zealand is scheduled for November 19, followed by the second on November 21 and the final game on November 22. All three contests will be played in Auckland as Sanjay leads the young group on a tour linked to a landmark moment in Indian hockey history.