Kalinga Lancers win Men’s Hockey India League title with 3-2 victory over Ranchi Royals

Title decided in Bhubaneswar

Vedanta Kalinga Lancers were crowned Men’s Hockey India League (HIL) champions after beating Ranchi Royals 3-2 at the Kalinga Hockey Stadium in Bhubaneswar. Playing in front of a strong home crowd, the Odisha-based side leaned on penalty-corner efficiency and a composed defensive spell to close out a high-intensity final.

Alexander Hendrickx was the decisive influence for the Lancers, scoring twice from penalty corners in the 4th and 27th minutes. His set-piece finishing not only shaped the final but also capped his tournament run, with the report noting he ended the season with 12 goals.

How the match unfolded

The Lancers struck early from a retaken penalty corner, with Hendrickx driving a low drag-flick past the goalkeeper. The Royals responded quickly, levelling through Araijeet Singh Hundal after an aerial ball found him inside the circle. The second quarter swung back in favour of the hosts as Kalinga increased the tempo and converted more penalty-corner pressure.

Dilpreet Singh added a crucial goal in the 25th minute to restore the lead, before Hendrickx’s second penalty-corner conversion extended the advantage. After the break, the Royals pushed hard, earning multiple corners, but the Lancers held firm for long stretches.

Late push, but Lancers hold on

Ranchi Royals reduced the deficit late when Tom Boon converted a penalty corner in the 59th minute, setting up a tense finish. Boon was also noted as the tournament’s top scorer with 19 goals, but on the day the Royals’ corner count did not translate into enough goals to flip the result.

The win marks a major moment for the Lancers and for Bhubaneswar’s hockey faithful, reinforcing the city’s growing reputation as a premier venue for the sport in India. For the Royals, the final was a reminder of how slim margins are in knockout games where set pieces often decide champions.