Top five overseas players to watch out for in Men's Hockey India League 2024-25

The best players in the world will be playing in the 2024-25 Hockey India League.

The long wait of hockey fans around the globe is set to end, as the Men’s Hockey India League 2024-25 is about to commence on December 28th, seven years after it was halted.

Set to take place at the Birsa Munda Hockey Stadium in Rourkela (select matches at alternate venues), the best players in the world from top hockey-playing nations will be present. While the form of domestic players will be crucial for the success of the teams, the overseas players will ensure that the intensity on the field is very high at all times.

Despite the withdrawal of 21 players including high-profile names like Christopher Ruhr, Tom Boon, Flynn Ogilvie, Pirmin Blaak, there were enough quality replacements available, with the global competition in international hockey at an all-time high.

Let us now have a look at the top five foreign players to keep an eye out for, in the Men’s Hockey India League 2024-25.

Foreign players to watch in Hockey India League 2024-25

5: Thierry Brinkman (Kalinga Lancers)

Thierry Brinkman’s experience of having played nearly 200 matches for the Netherlands will be invaluable. The forward, who was purchased at a price of Rs 38 lakhs, has scored 118 goals for the senior team. He will be leading a young forward line-up at the Kalinga Lancers.

The 29-year-old, who is a four-time EuroHockey Championship gold medallist, has been part of the outfits which ended up as the runners-up in the 2018 World Cup and won the gold medal at the 2024 Olympics. At Paris, Brinkman didn’t score a single goal until the quarter-final but clutched at the right time to score a goal each in the semifinal and the final.

4: Jip Janssen (Tamil Nadu Dragons)

The Tamil Nadu Dragons also managed to sign a key member from the Paris Olympics 2024 gold medal-winning Dutch squad, in the form of Jip Janssen, at a sum of Rs 54 lakhs. He and Amit Rohidas will be sharing duties at the back.

The Dutchman will also be their primary drag flicker. He has more than 110 caps and has scored 70+ goals. The 27-year-old has been in very good form recently, having scored five goals at the Paris Olympics and 15 goals in as many matches in the 2023-24 FIH Pro League, finishing as the highest goal scorer in the competition.

Also Read: Top five most expensive overseas players at Hockey India League player auction

3: Blake Govers (Tamil Nadu Dragons)

Creating chances, scoring goals from open play or sending powerful across powerful drag flicks, Australian attacking midfielder Blake Govers is one who can do it all. The Tamil Nadu Dragons would consider themselves fortunate, that they acquired his signing at a meagre price of Rs 27 lakhs.

The 28-year-old was part of the squad which clinched the bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics 2020. With the Australian team not at their peak in recent times, he would be disappointed that he hasn’t won more silverware.

His stats are sensational with 239 goals in 167 matches. Gevers’ recent form is no different, having scored 12 goals in as many matches at the FIH Pro League and seven goals in just five matches at the Paris Olympics.

2: Gonzalo Peillat (Hyderabad Toofans)

Drag-flicker Gonzalo Peillat was picked up by the Hyderabad Toofans for a price of Rs 68 lakhs, making him the most expensive overseas player in the auctions.

Having plied his trade for Argentina in his initial years (until 2018), before debuting for Germany in 2022, he has been a match-winner for both sides which he played in. He was part of the Argentinian side which won the bronze medal in the 2014 World Cup and the gold medal in the 2016 Olympics. He also played a key part in Germany’s 2023 World Cup triumph as well as the silver medal in the 2024 Olympics.

The 32-year-old has played more than 150 international matches and scored more than 180 goals. At Paris too, he scored four goals, which included one in the semi-final. A world-class defender too, Peillat’s form is likely to dictate how the tournament pans out for the Toofans.

Also Read: Men’s Hockey India League: Updated full squads of all teams

1: Alexander Hendrickx (Kalinga Lancers)

The Kalinga Lancers had the steal of the auction, signing Belgian defender Alexander Hendrickx at an amount of Rs 23 lakhs. Arguably the best drag flicker in the world currently, he is also a solid defender and will form an enviable backline with fellow Belgians like Arthur Van Doren and Antoine Kina.

The 31-year-old was part of the squads, which were triumphant at the 2018 World Cup and the Tokyo Olympics 2020 (where the Belgian had a whopping tally of 14 goals in eight matches), apart from finishing as runners-up in the 2023 World Cup.

He has been consistent as ever, scoring 10 goals in 12 matches in the FIH Pro League 2023-24 and scoring a goal each in all but one of the six matches at the Paris Olympics 2024.

Cumulatively scoring 168 goals in 198 international matches, Hendrickx would look to wreak havoc, while playing for the Kalinga Lancers.

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