Hockey India League: UP Rudras vs Vedanta Kalinga Lancers, preview, prediction, team news, and streaming details

Sam Ward, Akashdeep Singh, Aran Zalewski and Thierry Brinkman will be in action at the HIL on Monday - Source: Getty

Six teams have begun their Hockey India League campaigns over the past couple of days. The UP Rudras and Vedanta Kalinga Lancers will play their tournament opener on Monday (December 30) at Rourkela's Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium.

Only one side, the Shrachi Bengal Tigers, has managed an outright win thus far, placing them on top of the points table during the round-robin league phase in the eight-team competition.

Two exciting shootouts were played out on the first two days of the Hockey India League competition with the Delhi SG Pipers and the Soorma Hockey Club managing to win a bonus point each.

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The Rudras have in their ranks the Man with the Mask- Sam Ward of Great Britain- who can slot the drag-flicks in with aplomb while also scoring aplenty from open play.

Ward who also has the ability to excel as a playmaker will find a plethora of talent upfield in the form of veteran Indian striker Lalit Upadhyay and former Red Lion forward Tanguy Consyns.

The UP side has a star-studded midfield with the flamboyant Akashdeep Singh linking up with Simranjeet Singh, Hardik Singh, and Dutchman Floris Wortelboer.

Lars Balk who has an enviable record in India will man the backlines alongside Surender Kumar and Kane Russell who is certain to display his drag-flicking skills whenever an opportunity comes along.

The Kalinga Lancers, meanwhile, have the rock-solid Krishan Pathak in goal who has the support of Belgian stalwarts Antoine Kina and Arthur van Doren in defense.

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Alexander Hendrixkx's presence ensures the Lancers a healthy penalty corner conversion rate. Aussie veteran Aran Zalewski will direct midfield traffic even as the incredibly speedy Nicholas Bandurak combines with the forward line that includes the likes of Thierry Brinkman of the Netherlands and Dilpreet Singh.

UP Rudras vs Vedanta Kalinga Lancers, Hockey India League match details

Match Details: UP Rudras vs Vedanta Kalinga Lancers, League Match, Hockey India League 2024

Date & Time: Monday, December 30, 2024, 8:15 PM IST

Venue: Rourkela, India

UP Rudras vs Vedanta Kalinga Lancers: Full Squads

UP Rudras

Goalkeepers: Pankaj Kumar Rajak, James Mazarelo, Prashant Kumar Chauhan

Defenders: James Albery, Lars Balk, Surender Kumar, Sunil Jojo, Kane Russell, Prashant Barla, Sharda Nand Tiwari, Priyobarta Talem

Midfielders: Manmeet Singh, Jobanpreet Singh, Simranjeet Singh, Rafael Vilallonga, Floris Wortelboer, Hardik Singh, Akashdeep Singh

Forwards: Sudeep Chirmako, Sam Ward, Tanguy Cosyns, Zaid Mohammad Khan, Gurjot Singh, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay

Vedanta Kalinga Lancers

Goalkeepers: Krishan Pathak, Toby Cotterill, Sahil Kumar Nayak

Defenders: Sushil Dhanwar, Antoine Kina, Partap Lakra, Arthur van Doren, Enrique Gonzalez, Rohit Kullu, Alexander Hendrickx, Mandeep Mor, Sanjay

Midfielders: Aran Zalewski, Rosan Kujur, Rabichandra Moirangthem, Nicholas Bandurak, Mukesh Toppo, Roshan Minz

Forwards: Gursahibjit Singh, Angad Bir Singh, Deepak Pradhan, Thierry Brinkman, Dilpreet Singh, Boby Singh Dhami

UP Rudras vs Vedanta Kalinga Lancers: Prediction

The presence of Akashdeep, Sam Ward, Nicholas Bandurak and Lalit Upadhyay is reason enough to believe that the fourth match of the competition is poised to be the most exciting yet. A flurry of chances will likely be created with an equal mix of goals from open play and penalty corners.

Score Prediction: UP Rudras 3 - Vedanta Kalinga Lancers 2

Where to watch Hockey India League 2024 matches in India?

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

Edited by Vaishnavi Iyer