Craig Fulton Backs India’s Hockey Depth After Nationals

India men’s hockey team head coach Craig Fulton

After the conclusion of the 15th Hockey India Senior Men National Championship 2025 in Jhansi, Indian men’s hockey team head coach Craig Fulton expressed confidence in the squad’s talent pool as preparations begin for the Asia Cup 2025.

Close Contests Show Talent Depth, Says Fulton

Fulton closely monitored the championship and noted that matches between top teams remained highly competitive.

“When we put strength on strength, the games were very, very close,” he said. “There’s good depth, particularly in goalkeeping and across the board. It was also encouraging to see players who hadn’t featured in the league before.”

Punjab Dominates, but Top Teams Display Balance

The coach praised Punjab for their dominance, crediting their edge to a high number of international players. However, he added that other top-four teams also showed quality and balance.

“Some regions were definitely stronger. Punjab stood out due to their international experience, but the overall quality in the top four was encouraging. Beyond that, there was a noticeable dip in depth.”

Selection Based on Role Fit, Not Just Youth

Fulton clarified that the focus is on selecting the right players for specific roles, rather than simply infusing youth into the squad.

A training camp involving 54 probables will begin shortly. From this pool, a core group of 40 players will be finalized.

“We’ve been speaking about creating depth for a while now. The next 18 months are key to building bench strength,” he stated.

Selection Focus: Defence, Game IQ, and Tactical Fit

The coaching staff evaluated players on both individual skills and how well they fit into team systems.

“We assessed defensive qualities most—both in one-on-one situations and team defence,” Fulton said.

While evaluating positional gaps, Fulton pointed out the need to improve field goal scoring and tactical adaptability.

“We want players who can move the ball effectively against man-to-man or zonal defence, press intelligently, and outlet under pressure.”

Future Focus: Strategic Depth Post-Paris Olympics

Fulton emphasized athleticism, game awareness, and tactical adaptability over versatility. These will be critical traits in the post-Paris Olympics phase.

With PR Sreejesh retiring after Paris 2024, the focus will now shift to maintaining core stability and adding strategic depth for future international tournaments.

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