Three players from Odisha have been selected in the 20-member Indian mens hockey squad for the upcoming tour of New Zealand, scheduled for 15 to 23 November 2026. The three Odisha players are: Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Anmol Ekka and Rosan Kujur.

The tour will feature three matches, marking 100 years of sporting ties between the two countries. The three matches will be played on November 19, 21 and 22 at Lloyd Elsmore Hockey Stadium in Auckland.

The tour commemorates the historic 1926 visit of an Indian Army hockey team, featuring the legendary Major Dhyan Chand, which became the first Indiaan team from any sport to tour New Zealand. The Indian squad will be led by Sanjay Rana with Craig Fulton as chief coach.

INDIAN MEN TEAM: Goalkeepers: Mohith Honnenahalli Shashikumar, Pawan Malik. Defenders: Talem Priyobarta, Sanjay Rana (c), Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Sharda Nand Tiwari, Anmol Ekka, Yashdeep Siwach. Midfielders: Angad Bir Singh, Aditya Arjun Lalage, Rabichandra Singh, Vishnukant Singh, Manmeet Singh, Rosan Kujur, Venkatesh Kenche. Forwards: Ajeet Yadav, Uttam Singh, Karthi Selvam, Arshdeep Singh, Araijeet Singh Hundal.
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PHOTO: Odisha players (L-R) Nilam Sanjeep Xess, Anmol Ekka and Rosan Kujur pose after being selected for the New Zealand tour on 9 Nov 2026.