Indian hockey legend and junior national team coach PR Sreejesh spoke candidly about the latest developments from Day 2 of the Hockey India League (HIL) auction, sharing his excitement over the new recruits and shedding light on his vision for the future of Indian hockey.
With the overseas player quota now full, Sreejesh was particularly pleased with the domestic talent they were able to secure. He expressed satisfaction with his picks, saying,
“Ankit and Rohit, they’re from the under-21 team. Being the coach of that team, I think they should be at the top level. Jarmanpreet as well—can’t believe we got him at such a good price. It’s one of the best picks in the HIL auction. I’m so happy to have them in my team.”
Focus Shifts to Women’s Auction
As attention turns to the Women’s HIL auction, set to take place tomorrow, Sreejesh is equally prepared. He shared insights into the team’s strategic planning:
“We’re prepared with multiple team combinations. The team is well-prepared. But we’ll be focusing more on the Indian senior and junior teams. We need to have overseas players in our team, but HIL is a platform for Indian players to develop. So we’re trying to build a team that will help shape the future of the women’s national hockey team.”
Sreejesh also emphasized the importance of the HIL in bridging the gap between international and domestic hockey. He noted that younger players will have the opportunity to interact with international athletes, learning not only how they approach the game but also how they conduct themselves off the field. For Sreejesh, the biggest takeaway he hopes the players gain from this experience is leadership skills, which he believes are crucial for their development.
As the head coach of the junior national team, Sreejesh also highlighted the long-term goals for Indian hockey. While the immediate target is the Junior World Cup, Sreejesh has his sights set on the bigger picture:
“The main target is the Junior World Cup, but for me, it’s about targeting the LA 2028 Olympics. The Junior World Cup is the first step toward their big journey.”
Having recently joined the team, Sreejesh is eager to assess the players’ performance at the upcoming Johor Cup.
“I’ve only joined a week and a half ago, and the Johor Cup is where I want to see how the youngsters perform. It’s going to be a checklist for us, a preparation toward the Junior Asia Cup next year,” he explained.
With a clear roadmap in place and a promising pool of young players, PR Sreejesh remains optimistic about the future of Indian hockey—both in the HIL and on the international stage.