Hockey India League: Vedanta Kalinga Lancers vs Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers, preview, prediction, team news, and streaming details

The team well and truly on top of the Hockey India League standings takes on a side that is at the absolute bottom of the points table on Tuesday (January 7).

After a staggering unbeaten run, the Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers have veered ahead of the pack in the eight-team competition even as they seek a fourth successive victory when they play the Kalinga Lancers.

The vast gap between the two teams on the points table is not indicative of a contrast in quality with the Lancers being distinctly unlucky to have ended up on the losing side twice despite playing brilliant hockey.

The Kalinga Lancers who preferred to play a fast and attacking style of hockey as compared to most other teams who have adopted a more cautious approach paid the price for not plugging the gaps in defence.

Valentin Altenburg interestingly has looked to be one of the most relaxed coaches in the competition breaking into a smile whenever the defending champions have struck the target.

The Lancers have scored six goals thus far but have conceded nine after having taken the lead in all of their three previous matches as compared to the Tigers who have scored nine and conceded only four.

Colin Batch's team has been unrelenting up front but unlike the Lancers, have kept things tight near the backlines as well.

A third defeat could well deal a severe blow to the Lancers' Hockey India League campaign. The biggest advantage that the Kalinga Lancers have on Tuesday is that the Bengal side does not like to sit deep in defense which will enable Altenburg's chargers to play their natural game up front.

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Kalinga Lancers vs Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers, Hockey India League match details

Match Details: Kalinga Lancers vs Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers, League Match, Hockey India League 2024-25

Date & Time: Tuesday, January 7, 2025, 8:15 PM IST

Venue: Rourkela, India

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Kalinga Lancers vs Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers: Full Squads

Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers

Goalkeepers: Atal Dev Singh, Jamie Carr, Ali Khan

Defenders: Hayden Beltz, Gauthier Boccard, Jasjit Singh Kular, Rupinder Pal Singh, Sebastien Dockier, Jugraj Singh

Midfielders: Sean Findlay, Yogesh Malik Singh, Jaskaran Singh, Pardeep Mor, Affan Yousif, Tim Cross, Pradhan Poovanna, Atul Deep, Pardeep Singh Sandhu, Luwang Ingalemba

Forwards: Florent van Aubel, Sam Lane, Gursewak Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Abhishek

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

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Kalinga Lancers vs Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers: Prediction

The Odisha side is formidable up front with the likes of Thierry Brinkman and Dilpreet Singh lurking in the attacking circle but they need to find a way to stop conceding goals at crucial junctures.

Countering Jugraj Singh's drag flicks will also be high on the agenda for the Lancers think-tank. Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, and Florent van Aubel will, however, ensure that the Lancers' defense is kept busy.

Score Prediction:

Kalinga Lancers 4 - Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers 3

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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.