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:

Note: This is accurate as of September 21, 2026.

10. Nikki Pradhan – 214 appearances

Jharkhand midfielder Nikki Pradhan has been a solid presence in midfield for India, being a part of some memorable achievements by the national team, including a historic fourth-place finish at the Rio Olympics. The 32-year-old has amassed 214 appearances for the Women in Blue so far.

9. Navneet Kaur – 219 appearances

Navneet Kaur has been superb up front for the national team, finishing the Women’s FIH World Cup 2026 as the top scorer with four goals. The 32-year-old, part of the silver-winning side at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Games, has made 219 appearances for India so far.

8. Surinder Kaur – 229 appearances

Known for her rich experience, Surinder Kaur is one of the finest players who 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. Rani Rampal – 254 appearances

Rani Rampal was the youngest player 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. She appeared in 254 matches for India before retiring in 2024.

4. Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam – 270 appearances

Sushila Chanu was the only player from Manipur who was part of the Tokyo Olympics. 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. The 34-year-old halfback has earned 270 caps for the national team so far, including making two appearances at the Asian Games 2026.

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. 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.

1. Savita Punia – 321 appearances

The starting goalkeeper for 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 recently became the most-capped women’s player in India, making her 321st appearance against Indonesia at the Asian Games 2026.

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