Vedanta Kalinga Lancers clinched the Hero Hockey India League 2026 title. The host team defeated Ranchi Royals 3-2 in the final at Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar.
Belgian superstar Alexander Hendrickx, the third highest goal-scorer of the season, netted a brace (4, 27), while Dilpreet Singh (25) added the third goal. Araijeet Singh Hundal (9) and Tom Boon (59) struck for the Royals.
Goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak delivered a standout performance for the Lancers. Belgium star and Lancers skipper Arthur Van Doren was named Player of the Match for his exceptional stick-work in the defensive line.
Proceedings began with a vociferous Bhubaneswar crowd cheering for the home team. But it was the Royals who unleashed the first shot on goal, only for Pathak to make a timely save. Minutes later, Angadbir Singh found Anmol Ekka’s foot, earning the first penalty-corner of the match. Hendrickx converted it clinically to open the scoring.
The lead was short-lived as Hundal retrieved an aerial pass inside the attacking circle and finished with a deft one-tap shot at the far post.
The first few minutes of the second quarter were evenly contested, before the Lancers earned a series of penalty-corners. All of them were defended by the Royals.
With five minutes to go for the halfway mark, Dilpreet won the Lancers a penalty-corner, of which Hendrickx’s flick was stopped by first rusher Manpreet. There was a re-take and this time, Karkera blocked Hendrickx’s attempt. But Dilpreet reacted quickly and slotted home the rebound for his first goal of the season.
Minutes later, Hendrickx struck again from a penalty-corner, beating goalkeeper Karkera on the left side of the net, and giving his team a 3-1 lead.
In the early phase of the penultimate quarter, Lancers continued their attacking display with half-passes and tight man-to-man marking in the midfield. They breached the defence, but Karkera’s sharp reflexes denied them. The Royals responded with eight circle entries but failed to convert and went into the final quarter with a two-goal deficit.
The Royals went all out in the search of goal, pressing hard from the right channel. With 16 circle entries, they looked sharp and won several penalty-corners, but Pathak stood like a wall and saved the attempts of Boon, Sam Lane and Nilam Sanjeep Xess.
Boon, the highest-scorer of the season, finally struck in the dying minutes, converting a penalty-corner with a superb flick into the gap between Antonie Akina and Pathak. The Lancers kept possession and made sure there was no late drama.
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