New Delhi: With the Hockey India League (HIL) Season 2 auctions on the horizon, SG Pipers have outlined a clear strategy focused on building a balanced squad. Director of Hockey, Sreejesh PR, said the team is approaching the auctions with a structured plan, combining retained talent with carefully chosen new signings to strengthen both the men’s and women’s sides.
Speaking with measured optimism, Sreejesh highlighted how new recruits Jake Draper and Sharmila Devi will fit into the Pipers’ system. “Sharmila can run with the ball. She can create opportunities for the forward line, from where most of her goals come. Draper can be an added strength to our defensive structure. In our team, we do have a very good line of Indian defence. We needed a foreign player who could control the game from the middle. Draper is a free defender, and Sharmila is more into attack,” he explained.
The roadmap for the auctions, he said, is centred around acquiring players who can change the course of matches. “Game changers are the ones we are focusing on. In the men’s team, we retained the majority of our players. We need game changers for tomorrow’s auction. In the women’s team we have 12 players. The 8 are going to be really crucial. The main focus is going to be a defender who can flick and a forward who can score,” Sreejesh added.
While player selection is a headline act, the coaching set-up is also bringing a renewed dynamic to the franchise. “When the coaches join us, they will have a clear picture of how we want to execute our plans this season. According to their plan, we are planning our auction strategy. It is not me individually making decisions about the players; it is about the coaches and their preferences. As an administrator, it is my role to provide the best players to my coaches so that they can play a hassle-free tournament,” he clarified.
Beyond the auction and tactical nuances, Sreejesh underlined the broader role of the HIL in shaping Indian hockey. For him, the league is more than a competition – it is a breeding ground for the future. “For the youngsters, this is the right platform to learn. It is a nursery for the youngsters. They are rubbing shoulders with the senior-most players. They are playing alongside them, training with them, dining with them. Every situation, every minute, there is something to learn. When you play with foreign players, they give you a different perspective. That is really important. I think this is a great platform for the youngsters to raise their level.”
Earlier in September, SG Pipers confirmed their coaching appointments: Dutchman Tim Oudenaller will take charge of the men’s team, while Belgian coach Sofie Gierts will lead the women’s unit. Both will work in tandem with Sreejesh to ensure the squad strikes the right balance between reliable performers and explosive match-winners.
As the auction day approaches, SG Pipers appear clear-eyed and purposeful – chasing not just a squad, but a formula that could turn them into one of the teams to beat in Season 2.
