Craig Fulton Hints at Major India Hockey Squad Overhaul Ahead of LA Olympics 2028

Indian men's hockey team chief coach Craig Fulton has indicated that a significant overhaul of the national squad could be on the cards as the team begins preparing for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. India are expected to introduce a fresh group of players for the upcoming FIH Pro League campaign, with the coach viewing the tournament as the starting point of a new preparation cycle.

India will host Germany, Argentina, Great Britain and Spain during the home leg of the Pro League in February. Fulton confirmed that a new squad would be selected in January, although the limited preparation time could pose a challenge as players are expected to return to their respective franchise commitments.

"We will select a new squad for the Pro League in January (February). There is very little time to train because the players will go back to their respective franchises. We will name a new squad, which will play in the Pro League, and then start the 2027-28 cycle with that squad," head coach Fulton said, as quoted by PTI.

New Zealand Tour to Mark Historic Hockey Milestone

Before the Pro League assignment, India are scheduled to tour New Zealand for a special three-match Test series this month. The fixtures, set to take place in Auckland on November 19, 21 and 22, will commemorate 100 years since India's first historic hockey tour of New Zealand in 1926.

Fulton said the squad for the tour was yet to be finalised, with an official announcement expected shortly.

The coach also pointed out that changes within the Indian team have already been underway, dismissing the suggestion that the transition process would begin only with the next Pro League campaign. He highlighted the different combinations India have fielded across the last three editions of the Asian Champions Trophy, noting that nine players have changed since the previous squad.

"Every team needs transition, and every team needs to change. We have already made changes. We have played the Asian Champions Trophy three times, and we have never had the same team on all three occasions. The team that played in Chennai (2023) was different from the one that played in Hulunbuir (2024). We have changed nine players since the previous team. The team is different now," he said.

India Look to Move On From Disappointing World Cup

India's preparations for the next Olympic cycle come after a mixed run of results this year. The Harmanpreet Singh-led side endured a disappointing World Cup campaign, finishing eighth, but recovered by successfully defending its Asian Games title and securing direct qualification for the 2028 Olympics.

Despite India's continued strength against Asian opponents, Fulton believes the team must raise its standards when facing Europe's leading hockey nations and other higher-ranked sides.

Reflecting on the World Cup performance, the coach identified shortcomings at both ends of the pitch, particularly India's inability to convert opportunities in crucial matches and the defensive lapses that allowed opponents to score relatively easy goals.

"We didn't score goals when we needed to in the big games (at the World Cup), and we conceded some soft goals. So, both our defence and attack need to improve. Against Asian opposition, our ability to score goals and defend is good. But against European opposition and higher-ranked teams, we have to keep improving," Fulton said.

He added that the focus would extend beyond individual selections, with the team's approach and composure in high-pressure encounters also requiring attention. "We are looking at both attack and defence. But it is not about identifying a particular player at this stage. It is about mindset and mentality in the big games. All players make mistakes, and all players make good plays," he explained.

New Core Group to Be Selected After New Zealand Tour

India will use the New Zealand tour to evaluate players before finalising a new core group for the assignments ahead. Fulton said the assessment following the three-match series would help determine the composition of the squad for the next phase of the Olympic build-up.

"That is what we are going to assess after New Zealand. After that tour, we will select a new core group and a new squad," the South African coach said.

With the 2028 Olympics firmly in sight, the coming months could prove important for India as they look to build a stronger and more consistent team capable of competing with the world's leading hockey nations.