Hockey India League: Hyderabad Toofans vs Team Gonasika, preview, prediction, team news, and streaming details

Two teams currently placed in the bottom half of the Hockey India League points table take each on while hoping for a change in fortunes at the Birsa Munda Stadium on Saturday (January 4).

Hyderabad Toofans, who won a bonus shootout point against the Delhi SG Pipers after having gone down to the Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers 2-3 in their opener, face Team Gonasika in what is a must-win game for both sides.

Gonasika are currently in seventh place in the eight-team competition having been undone by a Rupinder Pal Singh brace (1-2) against the Bengal Tigers. The Vizag-based side had earlier lost a shootout against the Delhi Pipers in their first match of the Hockey India League.

Powered by a vastly experienced midfield featuring Manpreet Singh alongside the Great Britain trio of Jacob Draper, Lee Morton and Jack Waller Team, Gonasika have looked good in patches thus far.

A wobbly defense, however, has forced goalkeeper Oliver Payne to pull off a series of extraordinary saves.

Nikkin Thimmaiah, who was the livewire for Gonasika against the SG Pipers, missed the second game. Thimmaiah's compatriot from Coorg SV Sunil, however, failed to make an impact after being brought in for the match against the Tigers.

With the likes of Araijeet Singh Hundal and Mandeep Singh lurking up front, Team Gonasika have the potential to challenge the best defensive line-ups in the competition.

The Toofans, on the other hand, have the redoubtable Gonzalo Peillat who can change the outcomes of games singlehandedly owing to his drag-flicking skills.

Arshdeep Singh has proven to be one of the most dependable players for the Toofans, with Australia's Timothy Daniel being the player to watch out for in the danger zone.

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Hyderabad Toofans vs Team Gonasika, Hockey India League match details

Match Details: Hyderabad Toofans vs Team Gonasika, League Match, Hockey India League 2024

Date & Time: Saturday, January 4, 2025, 8:15 PM IST

Venue: Rourkela, India

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Hyderabad Toofans vs Team Gonasika: Full Squads

Team Gonasika

Goalkeepers: Oliver Payne, Kamalbir Singh, Suraj Karkera

Defenders: Tim Howard, Dipsan Tirkey, Sanjeep Nilam Xess, Birendra Lakra, Anmol Ekka, Yogember Rawat, Amir Ali

Midfielders: Jacob Draper, Yashdeep Siwach, Jack Waller, Timothee Clement, Lee Morton, Vishnukant Singh, Sannuvanda Uthappa, Manpreet Singh

Forwards: Nikkin Thimmaiah, Struan Walker, SV Sunil, Victor Charlet, Araijeet Singh Hundal, Mandeep Singh

Hyderabad Toofans

Goalkeepers: Vikas Dahiya, Dominic Dixon, Bikramjit Singh

Defenders: Ravindra Akshay Avhad, Mukul Sharma, Amandeep Lakra, Devinder Walmiki, Gonzalo Peillat, Arthur de Sloover, Jacob Anderson, Rajawat Sundaram Singh

Midfielders: Zachary Wallace, Rajinder Singh, Darshan Vibhav Gawkar, Nic Woods, Aakib Rahim Sayyed, Maico Casella, Sumit, Nilakanta Sharma

Forwards: Timothy Daniel, Shilanand Lakra, Rohit Singh, Talwinder Singh, Arshdeep Singh

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Hyderabad Toofans vs Team Gonasika: Prediction

It seems to be only a matter of time before Mandeep Singh and Araijeet Singh Hundal get to combine effectively with Struan Walker and Victor Charlet. The formidable quartet can prove to be more than a handful for the Toofans' defense even if Thimmaiah misses out.

The Toofans will need Dominic Dixon to stand tall in goal while also hoping that Peillat can work his magic from the top of the circle.

Score Prediction: Team Gonasika 3 - 2 Hyderabad Toofans

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Where to watch Hockey India League 2024-25 matches in India?

Matches of the Hockey India League 2024-25 will be telecast on the Sony Sports Network and DD Sports and streamed live on SonyLiv and Waves.