Top 10 Indian female hockey players with most appearances

Indian women’s hockey team will feature in this month’s FIH Nations Cup.

Indian women’s hockey has grown on the world stage thanks to a group of dedicated players who stood by the team through every high and low.

From the disappointment of missing out on Olympic qualification in earlier years to the unforgettable fourth-place finish at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, these athletes have played a huge role in shaping the team’s journey.

Over time, they have evolved from young debutants into experienced leaders, carrying the team forward with belief and consistency. Legends like Vandana Katariya and Savita Punia have crossed the remarkable 300-cap mark.

Let’s have a look at the ten most-capped Indian women’s hockey players below:

10. Poonam Rani – 204 appearances

Poonam Rani is one of the most experienced players in the India setup but currently is out of the squad. She has played for India on 204 occasions and has earned so much reputation. The Hisar-based woman played for India in the 2016 Summer Olympics.

9. Navjot Kaur – 209 appearances

The vice-captain of Indian women’s team Navjot Kaur is ninth on the list for making 209 appearances for India since her debut in 2012.

Unfortunately, the 27-year-old couldn’t make it to the squad of CWG 2022 where the women won the bronze medal. But the Kurukshetra-born player transformed herself into a midfield powerhouse earning medals at the Asian Games (Silver 2018, Bronze 2014) and the Asia Cup (Gold 2017, Bronze 2022).

8. Surinder Kaur – 229 appearances

Known for her rich experience, Surinder Kaur is one of the finest players that has ever played the game for India. She won the gold medal in the 2004 Hockey Asia Cup. The Arjuna Awardee has appeared for India 229 times and is sixth on the list.

7. Monika Malik – 229 appearances

Midfielder Monika Malik represented India in the 2014 Asian Games and was a part of the bronze-medal winning squad. She has played 187 games for India to date and earned laurels for the country. She is an Arjuna Awardee and would look to give her best in the upcoming tournament

6. Ritu Rani – 248 appearances

One of the youngest-ever captains of the Indian team, Ritu Rani was a part of the national squad from the age of 14. She has led the team to some medal-winning performances most notably the bronze medal at the 2014 Asian Games.

5. Sushila Chanu – 252 appearances

Sushila Chanu was the only player from Manipur who was a part of the Tokyo Olympics. She has 252 appearances for India and is set to play for more years in the coming future.

She entered the rare 250+ international caps club during the FIH Pro League in 2024. For her decade-long excellence and leadership, she was conferred with the Arjuna Award in 2023.

4. Rani Rampal – 254 appearances

Rani Rampal was the youngest one in the squad that played in the 2010 World Cup. She was just 15 at that time. Recently, the woman from Shahbad was dropped from the World Cup squad and is yet to find her place in the team now. She appeared in 254 matches for India before retiring in 2024.

3. Deep Grace Ekka – 268 appearances

Deep Grace Ekka played an important role in making India win the bronze medal in CWG 2022. Earlier she was recommended for the Arjuna Award in 2022 for her contribution to the game.

The woman from Odisha served as a long-time vice captain for India before announcing her retirement from international hockey on 15 January 2024.

2. Savita Punia – 308 appearances

The goalkeeper of the women’s hockey team, Savita Punia is also known as the ‘Great Wall of India’ because of her phenomenal performance in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics as a goalkeeper.

She has been awarded the prestigious Arjuna Award for her remarkable contribution to the game. Savita has so far appeared in 308 games for India.

1. Vandana Kataria – 320 appearances

Veteran forward player Vandana Kataria has earned various laurels for the country over the years. She has been awarded the Arjuna Award, and Padma Shri in the past.

Vandana rose to prominence in 2-13 where she was the top goal-scorer for the side in the 2013 Women’s Hockey Junior World Cup.

She played 320 matches for India and scored 158 goals before announcing her retirement in April 2025.

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