HIL 2025-26: Ranchi Royals registers first win with 4–1 comeback over Bengal Tigers
Ranchi Royals secured its first win of the Men’s Hockey India League (HIL) 2025-26 season in spectacular fashion, defeating defending champion Bengal Tigers 4-1. Playing in front of its home crowd, Royals staged a massive late-game comeback, scoring four times in the final six minutes to snatch all three points.
The match started with Bengal Tigers showing exactly why it is the defending champion. It used a high-press strategy to keep Ranchi under pressure and won its first penalty corner in just the second minute, though it failed to convert.
Ranchi’s Sam Lane looked sharp early on, creating a chance in the fifth minute that resulted in a penalty corner, but his shot was blocked. Both goalkeepers were tested early, with Ranchi’s Suraj Karkera making a vital save in the ninth minute. Despite a flurry of attacks from both sides, the first quarter ended in a scoreless deadlock.
The intensity remained high in the second quarter. In the 25th minute, Tigers finally broke through, despite being a man down due to a green card. Abhishek fired a powerful ball toward the goal, which was expertly deflected into the net by Ketan Kushwaha—the youngest player in the HIL. Ranchi pushed hard for an immediate equaliser, and captain Tom Boon nearly found one in the final seconds of the half, but Tigers’ goalkeeper James Carr pulled off a brilliant save to keep the visitor 1-0 up at the break.
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In the third quarter, Tigers shifted to a more defensive five-man backline to protect its lead. Ranchi tried to play wide to create space, but Bengal’s defence remained organised and stubborn. Tigers had several opportunities to extend its lead through penalty corners, but Ranchi’s defensive unit, led by Manpreet and Yashdeep, kept it at bay. By the end of the third period, Tigers still held its 1-0 advantage, and it looked like it might see out a narrow victory.
However, the final quarter belonged entirely to the home team. The momentum shifted in the 54th minute when captain Tom Boon dispossessed a Tigers player, played a quick one-two, and fired a clinical reverse hit into the net to level the score at 1-1. The equaliser breathed new life into Royals. Just two minutes later, veteran Mandeep Singh (56’) found the back of the net to give Ranchi its first lead of the game.
The collapse of Tigers’ defence continued as Ranchi stayed on the attack. In the 58th minute, Lachlan Sharp scored to make it 3-1, effectively sealing the match. With Tigers reeling, Tom Boon added his second goal of the night in the final minute, completing a dominant 4-1 turnaround.
Sam Lane was named Player of the Match for his tireless work in the midfield and his role in sparking Royals’ offense. The victory marks a significant turning point for Ranchi Royals as it looks to build momentum in the season.
Published on Jan 11, 2026