Women’s Hockey Nations Cup 2026: Salima Tete to Lead 20-Member Squad In Auckland

India have named a strong blend of experienced stars and emerging talents for the FIH Women's Hockey Nations Cup 2025-26 in New Zealand.

Hockey India on Tuesday announced the 20-member Indian women's hockey squad for the upcoming FIH Hockey Women's Nations Cup 2025-26, scheduled to be held in Auckland, New Zealand, from June 15 to 21. Midfielder Salima Tete will continue to captain the side as India look to build momentum ahead of major international competitions, including the FIH Hockey World Cup and the Asian Games.

The squad features a healthy mix of experience and youth. Veteran goalkeeper Savita returns alongside Bichu Devi Kharibam, while defenders Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Nikki Pradhan and Jyoti add stability at the back. Young defenders Lalthantluangi and Shilpi Dabas, who recently made their senior debuts during the Australia tour, have also been retained. In attack, India will rely on the goalscoring abilities of Navneet Kaur, Deepika, Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, Ishika and Annu.

India head into the tournament after a productive tour of Australia, where they held the hosts to a 2-2 draw in a four-match friendly series.

India Begin Campaign Against USA

Drawn in Pool A, India will face the United States, Japan and Uruguay in the group stage of the Nations Cup. The Salima Tete-led side will kick off its campaign against the USA on June 15 before taking on Japan and Uruguay in its remaining pool matches.

Pool B consists of hosts New Zealand, Chile, Korea and France. The semi-finals are scheduled for June 20, while the final will take place on June 21.

Sjoerd Marijne Confident Ahead of Tournament

Speaking after the squad announcement, Chief Coach Sjoerd Marijne said the Nations Cup is an important tournament for the team.

"The Nations Cup is an important tournament for us. We want to go there and play with ambition to set a standard for ourselves that we can build on," Marijne said, as quoted by Hockey India.

The coach added that the Argentina and Australia tours had helped the team prepare well and that the focus is now on delivering consistent performances throughout the tournament.

On the squad selection, Marijne said the team has the right balance of experience and young talent. He highlighted players such as Savita, Sushila, Nikki and Navneet for their experience while stressing that the tournament will also help younger players continue their development at the international level.

With a balanced squad and valuable match practice behind them, India will be aiming to make a strong statement in Auckland and push for the Nations Cup title.

FIH Hockey Women's Nations Cup 2026: Squad

• Goalkeepers: Savita, Bichu Devi Kharibam
• Defenders: Sushila Chanu Pukhrambam, Ishika Chaudhary, Lalthantluangi, Shilpi Dabas, Jyoti, Nikki Pradhan
• Midfielders: Salima Tete (Captain), Neha, Sunelita Toppo, Sakshi Rana, Deepika Soreng, Sonam, Lalremsiami
• Forwards: Navneet Kaur, Deepika, Rutuja Dadaso Pisal, Ishika, Annu

FIH Hockey Women's Nations Cup 2026: Fixtures

• June 15: India vs United States (4:15 PM IST)
• June 16: India vs Japan (6:30 PM IST)
• June 18: India vs Uruguay (4:15 PM IST)