Ranchi, Jharkhaand 25 October 2914 :: Skipper of Indian Cricket team, Mahendra Singh Dhoni is new Franchisee owner for Ranchi team of Hero Hockey India League alongwith Sahara India Pariwar. Hero Hockey India League Chairman Narindar Batra and Abhijit Sarkar from Sahara India Pariwar were present during Announcing The Arrival of Ranchi Rays team at a programme in Ranchi on Saturday for 2015 HIL matches .
Lensman :: Ratan Lal
Hockey India League
Hockey India League, abbreviated as HIL, is a professional league for field hockey competition in India. It is organised by Hockey India. The tournament was originally contested in the first season among five franchisee-based teams (originally planned as six) consisting of players from India and around the world. In 2014, Kalinga Lancers joined as the sixth franchise, based in Bhubaneswar. The plan is to have 8 teams by 2016 and 10 by 2018, with a possibility of having a team from south India. The entire event takes place on home and away basis culminating into multi-header playoffs. The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has sanctioned the event and also provides a 30-day window at the beginning of a year so that all top players can participate. It is currently sponsored by two-wheeler manufacturer Hero MotoCorp, and is therefore officially known as Hero Hockey India League or HHIL.
The first season of HIL was played from 14 January to 10 February 2013, and was contested among five teams out of which Ranchi Rhinos became the champions after defeating Delhi Waveriders 2–1 in the final. The second season of HIL was won by Delhi Waveriders
