After an exciting 3-2 victory over Ranchi Royals at Kalinga Hockey Stadium on Monday, the Kalinga Lancers were declared the Hockey India League (HIL) 2025–26 champions.

After winning the championship, Captain Arthur Van Doren considered the difficulties encountered during the season and attributed the triumph to the team’s camaraderie and the backing of the home crowd.

The team’s quick four-week preparation time comes to a close with the championship victory. “Four weeks to build a bond and shape a team is a very short time, and it is extremely challenging,” Arthur added, highlighting the difficulty of creating a cohesive team in such a short amount of time. We are immensely proud of what we have accomplished because of this. I think we did a great job—we built a strong, cohesive team, and it ultimately showed on the field.

When facing the Ranchi Royals, a team they had already faced three times in the competition, Arthur emphasized the importance of maintaining an offensive mindset.

“They are an amazing team to play against, with an extremely aggressive style that also provides excellent spectator entertainment.” What matters most to us is how we performed against one of the top teams in the competition, and we are really proud of that,” he stated.

The Lancers’ strategy was to continue attacking rather than retiring into a completely defensive stance, even as they protected a one-goal advantage in the closing seconds of the game.

“It’s crucial to continue playing our natural game. Sitting back and merely defending is a risk since it lets the enemy launch constant attacks. He continued, “We made sure we remained upbeat, continued to attack, and even though they created a few opportunities, we stood strong together as a unit.”

After winning the league stage and securing their spot in Qualifier 1, the Lancers’ remarkable run saw just one loss throughout the tournament, and that came in a dead rubber match.

“The home crowd is always a huge bonus,” Arthur said, highlighting how the home crowd’s support has contributed to such a good run. Even if it’s only by a few percent, the energy they provide uplifts us and has a significant impact. We have cherished every moment of that amazing atmosphere.