In the 23rd game of the Men’s Hockey India League 2025/26 (Men’s HIL 2025/26) on Sunday night (January 18), Kalinga Lancers claimed a shootout victory against Tamil Nadu Dragons and have held their points table leadership position strongly.
In the 19th minute, Australian Blake Govers put Tamil Nadu Dragons ahead by converting the only penalty stroke of the match. In the 44th minute, Belgian Alexander Hendrickx equalised the scoreline for Kalinga Lancers from a penalty corner.
As the match ended 1–1 after full-time, it entered a penalty shootout. Kalinga Lancers successfully recorded goals in all four attempts, while Tamil Nadu Dragons’ first two attempts were unsuccessful by Nathan Ephraums and Blake Govers. Although Uttam Singh scored Dragons, it was too late for them.
The table-toppers Kalinga Lancers have 16 points after six matches, with four wins, one shootout win, and one full-time loss. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Dragons are in sixth position with eight points from six matches, having recorded one full-time victory, two shootout wins, one shootout defeat, and two full-time losses.
Men’s Hockey India League 2025/26 (Men's HIL 2025/26): Kalinga Lancers vs Tamil Nadu Dragons
Final Scoreline: 1(4)–1(1)
Shots: 7–5
Circle Entries: 170–102
Penalty Corners: 5–4
Penalty Strokes: 0–1
Men’s Hockey India League 2025/26 (Men's HIL 2025/26): Latest Points Table After Match 23
Rank | Team | Played | Won | SOW | SOL | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points |
1 | Kalinga Lancers | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 6 | +9 | 16 |
2 | HIL Governing Council | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 15 | 11 | +4 | 10 |
3 | Ranchi Royals | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 18 | 11 | +7 | 9 |
4 | Shrachi Bengal Tigers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 16 | 24 | -8 | 9 |
5 | Hyderabad Toofans | 6 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 14 | 9 | +5 | 8 |
6 | Tamil Nadu Dragons | 6 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 19 | -3 | 8 |
7 | Soorma Hockey Club | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 8 | 12 | -4 | 5 |
8 | SG Pipers | 6 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 13 | 23 | -10 | 4 |
