Craig Fulton hints at major India hockey squad overhaul ahead of LA 2028
India head coach Craig Fulton plans a new Pro League squad as the team transitions toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
India men's hockey coach Craig Fulton has signalled significant squad changes ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, with a new Pro League group to be named in February and a fresh core to start the 2027-28 cycle.
Key takeaways
- Craig Fulton hinted at a major India hockey squad overhaul for LA 2028
- India will face Germany, Argentina, Great Britain and Spain in the February Pro League home leg
- India will play three Tests in Auckland on November 19, 21 and 22 during the New Zealand tour
- Fulton wants 30-40 matches in 2027 to build a new core group
- India qualified directly for LA 2028 by winning gold at the Asian Games
India men's hockey coach Craig Fulton has indicated significant changes to the squad as the team begins its transition toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Fulton plans to select a new squad for the home leg of the Pro League in February, when India face Germany, Argentina, Great Britain and Spain. The move marks the start of a new cycle ahead of the LA Games.
Why it matters
India secured direct qualification for LA 2028 by winning gold at the Asian Games. Fulton wants the team to play as many as 30-40 matches in 2027 because there are no major tournaments that year.
India finished eighth at the World Cup this year but retained its Asian Games title. Craig Fulton is a South African coach and former field hockey player who guided India to an Olympic bronze medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
> We will name a new squad, which will play in the Pro League, and then start the 2027-28 cycle with that squad
India will travel to New Zealand this month for a special international Test series marking 100 years since India's first historic hockey tour to the country in 1926. India will play three Tests on November 19, 21 and 22 in Auckland.
Fulton said the squad has not been finalised yet and will be announced in the coming days. He said a new-look group will get valuable international exposure, with many senior players absent.
What happens next
India will pick a new Pro League squad in February before finalising a fresh core group after the New Zealand tour. Fulton said the coaching staff will use the Pro League home leg to bring in a fresh group of players. The squad for the New Zealand tour will be announced in the coming days.
India's upcoming fixtures and Pro League opponents
Event | Opponent | Date | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
New Zealand Test | New Zealand | November 19, 21 and 22 | Auckland |
Pro League home leg | Germany, Argentina, Great Britain, Spain | February | India |
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