New Delhi, Dec. 17 -- There's a lot at stake when the Hockey India League (HIL) gets underway on 3 January. It's the calm before a momentous storm that Indian men's national team will hope to power through in 2026-Pro Hockey League fixtures in February and June, followed by the World Cup in August and the Asian Games in September.

The last few years have been an erratic period for the senior men's side where they have shown flashes of brilliance that won them consecutive bronze medals at the Olympics. And disheartening slumps, such as last year when they finished eighth of nine teams in the Pro Hockey League. Their dominance in Asia has been unquestionable, but there's still the need for consistency to be considered a regular contender a...