Hockey India League 2025-26: Shrachi Bengal Tigers begins title defence with 3-1 win over Soorma Hockey Club
Soorma Hockey Club kept Hockey India League (HIL) champion Shrachi Bengal Tigers at bay for the first half, only for its defensive resolve to collapse in the second, succumbing to 1-3 loss at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium in Chennai on Sunday.
If the opening match on Saturday flaunted flamboyant, all-hands-on-deck attacking flair, the second match swayed at the other end of the spectrum, with the Tigers systemically chipping away at Soorma’s defense over time and claiming a win.
For a major part of the opening quarter, both teams preferred maintaining shape and opted against aggressive press in the opposite half. The possession, hence, switched between the defenders, who missed the mark with their attempted line-piercing slashes and aerial lobs.
The Tigers got their first opportunity in the 13th minute when Jaskaran Singh was impeded by Sukhvinder Singh inside the circle. But Soorma impressed with its defensive collaboration again. First rusher Victor Wegnez smothered any room for Tom Grambusch’s dragflick and thwarted the attempt.
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Christopher Ruhr granted himself space on the right side and blasted a shot, only for Vincent Vanasch to parry it to safety.
Soorma should have gone ahead in the 22nd minute when Maninder Singh found Prabhjot Singh at the edge of the circle with a flank-switching pass. Prabhjot turned it towards Nicolas della Torre with a single touch, who squirted his attempt wide.
But Tigers turned up the heat on Soorma in the final five minutes of the second period. The onslaught started with Abhishek’s tomahawk hitting Sukhvinder on the foot, getting Tigers a penalty corner. This time, it was Vanasch who denied Jugraj Singh, shutting down the chance for the Tigers.
Jugraj, the Tigers’ captain, got a second chance when Vivek Sagar Prasad tripped Abhishek in the circle a minute later, but he was off the mark again. Vanasch made the final save of the first half, sweeping away Sukhjeet Singh’s pass across the goalmouth, which had resulted after a neat one-two with Sean Findlay.
The pressure paid dividends for the Tigers in the third period. Tommy Willems drew an error inside the circle and got his side a PC, which was buried into the net by Grambusch after a soft deflection off Vanasch’s foot.
The Tigers doubled their advantage in the 45th minute courtesy of Harmanpreet Singh’s error. The Soorma captain, high up the pitch with his team on attack, lost possession to Findlay. The Kiwi sought Ruhr in front of him, who then set up Abhishek for a blazing reverse-stick strike into the board.
Sandwiched between the two goals was Soorma’s miss off a counter attack. Gurjant Singh charged down the right flank and his slash across into the circle went behind the incoming Prabhjot, who was lurking for a tap-in.
Prabhjot sparked life into the contest in the 54th minute by getting on the end of a pass from Nicolas Poncelet from the right flank and tapping it home.
Eager to push for an equaliser, Soorma subbed its keeper off for an additional outfield player. With less than a minute left, Della Torre gave away possession, allowing Abhishek to set up Gursewak Singh for an open goal and thus, extinguish any Soorma hopes for a late twist.
Published on Jan 04, 2026