New Delhi: Hockey India on Wednesday announced the Indian men hockey squad for the upcoming New Zealand tour which is scheduled from October 2 to October 11. India will play a total of six games in the tour. The first two games will be played against New Zealand A and the rest of the four matches against the New Zealand’s National squad.

The New Zealand tour will be in preparation for the Hero Hockey World League Raipur 2015 which is scheduled from November 27 to December 6 in Raipur, India followed by the all important RIO Olympics next year.

The 21-member squad was selected post a rigorous preparatory camp under Director High Performance and Chief Coach (Men) Roelant Oltmans, held in Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium in Delhi. Under the stewardship of captain Sardar Singh along with the support Wall of Indian Hockey - PR Sreejesh. The Indian Men team will be vying for a clean sweep in New Zealand. Understanding the importance of the series ahead, the Indian team has been working on their passes and penalty corner conversions so as to leave no stone unturned and ensure that they come back victorious.

Speaking on the upcoming tournament Roelant Oltmans Director, High Performance & India Men Chief Coach said, “The boys are looking forward to the tournament ahead and are confident of a positive show. Also Dave Staniforth recently holding a 3 week goalkeeping camp has got the goalkeepers pepped up and are waiting to exhibit the learning’s under the bar. It is a motivation to see a squad which oozes confidence. The team in the last couple of weeks has worked on team coordination and passes. The idea is to convert when in the D and not lose out on those moments”.

All games during the series will be LIVE streamed. More details about the live stream will be published on www.hockeynz.co.nz ahead of the series starting.

India and New Zealand A will be playing their first match on 2nd October 2015 in Auckland.

List of players-

Goalkeepers
1. PR Sreejesh (Vice-Captain)
2. Harjot Singh

Defenders
3. Birendra Lakra
4. Kothajit Singh
5. VR Raghunath
6. Jasjit Singh Kular
7. Rupinder Pal Singh
8. Gurjinder Singh

Midfielders
9. Sardar Singh (Captain)
10. Chinglensana Singh
11. SK Uthappa
12. Satbir Singh
13. Devinder Walmiki
14. Manpreet Singh
15. Dharamvir Singh

Forwards
16. SV Sunil
17. Ramandeep Singh
18. Akashdeep Singh
19. Mandeep Singh
20. Lalit Upadhyay
21. Nikkin Thimmaiah