UP Rudras, including Lalit Upadhyay and vice-captain Hardik Singh, informed Hockey India of their decision. “We’ll handle it,” said Bhola Nath Singh.
Following disagreements with Hockey India regarding financial viability, the Uttar Pradesh Rudras withdrew from the Hockey India League, dealing a serious blow to the league. According to information obtained by The Indian Express, Hockey India was informed of the decision on Sunday night, only days prior to the September 24 mini players auction.
UP Rudras, which is owned by JK Cements, placed fifth in the first season of the redesigned HIL earlier this year. Top Indian and foreign players were on the team, including Lars Balk of the Netherlands, England’s Sam Ward, Belgium’s Tanguy Cosyns, India vice-captain Hardik Singh, and Lalit Upadhyay, who recently retired. Paul van Ass, a former trainer for both India and the Netherlands, served as their coach.
Unless a new team or owner is found for the UP franchise, their withdrawal leaves seven teams in the men’s competition. Bhola Nath Singh, the secretary general of Hockey India, expressed optimism that a solution will be found prior to the season commencing.
Financial Uncertainty Forces UP Rudras Exit as HIL Faces Growing Franchise Crisis
A team representative who was contacted said a statement would be released later on Monday and declined to comment.
According to sources, the Rudras administration decided to end the team when they were unable to get clarification from Hockey India over the league’s financial estimates. Teams spent about Rs 14 crore during the first season, which ran from December 2024 to February 2025. This amount included operational expenses, a Rs 4 crore wage purse, and a Rs 7 crore franchise fee.
All franchises have expressed concern about the “fragile financial conditions,” according to officials from three franchises who spoke to this newspaper. Since the first season was limited to Rourkela, the franchises were unable to generate enough revenue from sponsorship or ticket sales because they were playing thousands of kilometers away from their home base.
Without understanding the long-term objectives for sustainability, it is difficult for teams to continue losing Rs 14–15 crore annually, according to one official. “The teams requested clarification on the financial aspects, and because the UP Rudras owners did not receive it and were not persuaded by Hockey India’s plans, they chose to withdraw.”
Before the league started, all teams were given projections, according to Singh, secretary general of Hockey India. We had warned them that the first two seasons would be difficult, but that things might improve starting in the third season. We are unable to provide this in writing if someone requests it,” Singh stated.
The third team to leave after just one season is the UP Rudras. Vizag-based Team Gonasika left the men’s league for “personal reasons,” according to Dilip Tirkey, president of Hockey India. The Odisha Warriors, owned by Navoyam Sports, who defeated Soorma Hockey Club 2-1 to win the HIL, have also pulled out.
Until Hockey India intervened and paid the outstanding balance from the league winning prize money, the Odisha Warriors were unable to compensate their players. Both teams’ players will be added to the auction pool.
The Ranchi Royal Tuskers, a new team that will debut in the 2019 season, took over the operations of Gonasika and Odisha.