India will begin their campaign at the Asian Champions Trophy 2026 as overwhelming favourites when the six-nation tournament gets underway in Punjab on Tuesday. The five-time champions will face Bangladesh in their opening match as international hockey returns to the state after a gap of 17 years.
The tournament marks a special occasion for Indian hockey, with several members of the national team set to play in front of their families and home supporters. Punjab has long been regarded as the heartland of Indian hockey, with more than half of the Indian squad hailing from the state.
The last international hockey tournament held in Punjab was the Gold Cup in 2009. India captain Harmanpreet Singh, Jugraj Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Rajinder Singh, Hardik Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Dilpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh will now have the opportunity to represent the country on home soil.
ALSO READ: Ballon d’Or 2026 Nominees Ranked: Harry Kane To Lionel Messi, Who Leads The Race?
India head coach Craig Fulton is also looking forward to the tournament, saying the team cannot wait to feed off the home crowd.
India enter the competition as defending champions and the highest-ranked team among the six participants, sitting eighth in the world rankings. They have won the Asian Champions Trophy five times, in 2011, 2016, 2018, 2023 and 2024.
Asian Champions Trophy 2026: Where To Watch Live In India?
Live Streaming: The official digital streaming platform for the Asian Champions Trophy 2026 in India is JioHotstar web and mobile app.
Live Telecast: Television broadcast details in India are set to be Star Sports Select 2.
Venue: Punjab, India, with the semifinals and final scheduled in Mohali.
Tournament Format: The six teams will compete in a round-robin league stage, with the top four advancing to the semifinals.
Asian Champions Trophy 2026: India Schedule
India will face five opponents during the league stage. Bangladesh replaced Pakistan after the latter withdrew from the tournament, citing security concerns.
| Date | Matchup | Time (IST) | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 27 | India vs. Bangladesh | 7:00 PM | Jalandhar |
| Oct 29 | India vs. China | 7:00 PM | Jalandhar |
| Oct 30 | India vs. Japan | 7:00 PM | Jalandhar |
| Nov 1 | Malaysia vs. India | 7:00 PM | Jalandhar |
| Nov 2 | India vs. South Korea | 7:00 PM | Jalandhar |
The semifinals will take place on November 4, followed by the final on November 5 in Mohali. The top four teams from the league stage will qualify for the knockout rounds.
Asian Champions Trophy 2026: India's Squad
India have retained most of the core group that won gold at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, with a few changes to the squad.
Goalkeepers: Suraj Karkera, Krishan Bahadur Pathak
Defenders: Sanjay, Harmanpreet Singh (captain), Amit Rohidas, Jugraj Singh, Jarmanpreet Singh, Amandeep Lakra
Midfielders: Rajinder Singh, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Nilakanta Sharma, Hardik Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad
Forwards: Shilanand Lakra, Abhishek, Sukhjeet Singh, Dilpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh
Manpreet Singh has been ruled out after sustaining a calf injury during training. Midfielder Vivek Sagar Prasad has replaced him, while goalkeeper Krishan Bahadur Pathak comes in for Mohith HS.
Young defender Amandeep Lakra and midfielder Aditya Lalage will also look to strengthen their positions in the national setup.
ALSO READ: AFC Asian Cup 2027: Organizers Announce Kickoff Times And Full Schedule | Details
Asian Champions Trophy 2026: Opening-Day Schedule
Match | Time (IST) |
Malaysia vs China | 1:00 PM |
Japan vs South Korea | 3:15 PM |
India vs Bangladesh | 7:00 PM |
India will hope to make the most of home support and begin their title defence with a win against Bangladesh.