Odisha defender Amit Rohidas has returned to the Indian men team for the next round of the FIH Hockey Pro League in Europe starting 26 May 2023. Rohidas is the only Odisha player in the 24-member Indian team, which announced by Hockey India today.

In their previous round of Pro League matches at Birsa Munda Stadium, Rourkela, India remained unbeaten against reigning World champions Germany and Australia which helped them top the points table.

In Europe, they will hope to continue their winning momentum as they take on the formidable Belgium and Great Britain in London followed by matches against the Netherlands and Argentina in Eindhoven, the Netherlands.

This is the first time that India will be playing under newly-appointed Chief Coach Craig Fulton while the team will continue to be led by ace dragflicker and defender Harmanpreet Singh and Vice-Captained by the midfielder Hardik Singh.

Rohidas did not find a place in the 20-member Indian team for the Pro League matches at Rourkela even though he was fully fit and was representing his employers Indian Railways in the Senior Men Inter-Department National Championship in Bengaluru.

Young defender Nilam Sanjeep Xess was the only Odisha player in that Indian team. But for the upcoming European leg of the Pro League matches Xess has been dropped from the team.

Goalkeepers Krishan Bahadur Pathak has also returned to the squad after missing the home matches due to his wedding. Former captain and midfielder Manpreet Singh will be seen in a new role, playing in the backline.

Indian men are now leading the Pro League table with 19 points from eight matches. They have won five, lost one and drawn two so far.

INDIAN MEN TEAM: Goalkeepers: Krishan Bahadur Pathak, PR Sreejesh. Defenders: Harmanpreet Singh (Captain), Amit Rohidas, Jarmanpreet Singh, Manpreet Singh, Sumit, Sanjay, Mandeep Mor, Gurinder Singh. Midfielders: Hardik Singh (Vice-Captain), Dilpreet Singh, Moirangthem Rabichandra Singh, Shamsher Singh, Akashdeep Singh, Vivek Sagar Prasad. Forwards: Abhishek, Lalit Kumar Upadhyay, S Karthi, Gurjant Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Raj Kumar Pal, Mandeep Singh, Simranjeet Singh. Chief Coach: Craig Fulton.