In a major blow to the Hockey India League, the Uttar Pradesh Rudras have pulled out of the competition following differences with Hockey India over financial sustainability. The Indian Express has learnt that the decision — taken days before the September 24 mini players auction — was communicated to Hockey India on Sunday evening.
Owned by JK Cements, UP Rudras finished fifth in the first season of a revamped HIL earlier this year. The team boasted several top Indian and international players, including India vice-captain Hardik Singh, recently-retired forward Lalit Upadhyay, England’s Sam Ward, Tanguy Cosyns of Belgium and Lars Balk of the Netherlands. They were coached by former India and the Netherlands trainer, Paul van Ass.
Their withdrawal leaves the men’s tournament with seven teams unless a replacement team or a new owner for the UP franchise is found. Hockey India secretary general Bhola Nath Singh said he was ‘optimistic that a solution will be found before the start of the season.’
”We received an email from the team owners on Sunday evening. We will manage the situation, the league will go on,” Singh told The Indian Express.
When reached out, a team official did not wish to comment, saying a statement would be issued later on Monday.
Sources said the Rudras management pulled the plug after they did not receive clarity from Hockey India over the league’s financial projections. In the first season, which was held from December 2024 to February 2025, teams spent approximately Rs 14 crore, which included a Rs 7 crore franchise fee, a Rs 4 crore salary purse, and operational costs.
From 🇮🇳 to 🌍… here is the registration breakdown for the Hero HIL 2026 Mini Auction. 🏑⏳#herohil2026 | #hockeyindia | #jashnkanayaandaaz | #HeroHILMiniAuction pic.twitter.com/uNk04zHR72
— Hockey India League (@HockeyIndiaLeag) September 21, 2025
Officials from three franchises told this paper that all franchises have raised concerns over the ‘fragile financial conditions’. The first season was held only in Rourkela, which meant the franchises could not tap into ticketing revenue or raise enough money from sponsorship since they played thousands of miles away from their base.
“It is tough for teams to keep losing Rs 14-15 crore each year without knowing what the long-term plans for sustainability are,” an official said. “The teams have been asking for clarity on the financial aspects and since the owners of UP Rudras did not receive it — and were not convinced by Hockey India’s plans — they decided to pull out.”
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Hockey India secretary general Singh said they had shared projections with all teams before the league began. “We had told them that the first two seasons would be tough and things might turn around from the third season onwards. If someone wants this in writing from us, we can’t give that,” Singh said.
UP Rudras are the third franchise to pull out after just one season. Vizag-based Team Gonasika withdrew from the men’s league citing ‘personal reasons’, according to Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey. On the women’s side, Navoyam Sports-owned Odisha Warriors, who won the HIL by beating Soorma Hockey Club 2-1, too have withdrawn.
Odisha Warriors were unable to pay their players until Hockey India stepped in and paid the dues from the prize money the team was owed for winning the league. The players from both teams will enter the auction pool.
The operations of Gonasika and Odisha were absorbed by a new team, Ranchi Royal Tuskers, which will make its debut in the upcoming season.
