Five Indian men's hockey players with most International caps

These are one of the finest players our country has ever produced.

India has been a hockey powerhouse for the past 100 years and has won eight gold medals at the Olympics (the only country to win six consecutive gold medals at the Olympics). The Indian team has produced great players like Dhyan Chand (The Wizard) one of the greatest to have played the sport, and Balbir Singh Sr (who played a key role in 1948,1952, and the 1956 gold medal Olympics winning team). There are several players to have played the sport from India and this article let us discuss the top five most capped men’s players.

Sardar Singh (314)

Sardar Singh started his career in 2008 and his 12-year-long career has represented India on 314 occasions scoring 16 goals. The Padma Shri awardee was the youngest to captain the national side in 2008 at the Azlan Sultan Shah Cup. India claimed the second position losing to Argentina (2-1) in the finals. The defensive midfielder has played for several clubs across India and Europe. The former Indian captain represented KHC Leuven in 2011 and HC Bloemendaal in 2013.

After his retirement in 2018, Sardar Singh has been part of the selection committee and led the Indian National team at the Asia Cup in 2022.

Manpreet Singh (320)

Manpreet Singh the former Indian captain recently (2023 men’s hockey World Cup) became the fourth highest capped Indian replacing Sardar Singh. The midfielder made his debut in 2011 and has scored 20 goals in his 12-year-long career. Manpreet Singh led India to the bronze medal finish at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and has also been part of the 2014 Asian Games gold medal-winning team. The Khel Ratna awardee led the junior Indian team in the 2013 World Cup winning the gold medal. He is not far away from breaching the record held by Baljit Singh and Dhanraj Pillay (most caps).

Baljit Singh Dhillon (327)

Baljit Singh Dhillon made his debut in 1993 and scored six goals against South Africa in the international series. He captained the Indian side which won the maiden Champions League Challenge Cup in 2001 defeating South Africa (2-1). Baljit was an important member of the 1998 Asian Games gold medal-winning team scoring seven goals. (India won the Asian Games after 32 years). In 1999 he was part of the All-star FIH team and had an eventful season scoring nine goals against Pakistan (Indo-Pak series).

Dhanraj Pillay (339)

Dhanraj Pillay is one of the most iconic hockey players having represented India on 339 occasions scoring 170 goals. The forward has received several awards (Khel Ratna and Padma Shri). Pillay started his career in 1989 and has been part of (one Asian Games gold medal-winning team and three silver medal-winning teams). He was the torchbearer of the Indian team during the tough phase in the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was the lone Indian to be featured in the 1994 World Eleven side during the 1994 World Cup in Sydney, Australia.

Dilip Tirkey (412)

Dilip Tirkey after a successful career as a player is currently the president of Hockey India (2022 - *). He is the only Indian hockey player to breach 400 national caps and was also called “The Great Wall of Indian Hockey”. Under his captaincy, India clinched the gold medal at the 2003 Afro-Asian Games by defeating arch-rivals Pakistan in the Final. The current Hockey India president became the first to receive the Padma Shri award (India’s fourth highest civilian honour). He was also one of the few Indian players to play in the Pakistan Hockey League.