Hockey India League
The logo of Hockey India League
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| Countries | India |
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| Administrator | Hockey India |
| Headquarter | New Delhi, India |
| Founded | 2013 |
| Tournament Format | Triple round-robin and knock-out |
| First tournament | 2013 |
| Last tournament | 2017 |
| Number of teams | 6 |
| Current champion | Kalinga Lancers |
| Most successful | (1 title each) |
| Most goals | Ashley Jackson (36) |
| TV partner(s) | STAR Sports |
| Website | Official website |
Hockey India League (HIL), known as the Coal India Hockey India League for sponsorship reasons, is a professional field hockey league in India. The league is organized by Hockey India, the governing body for the sport in India. HIL, along with the Indian Premier League, Indian Super League, and Pro Kabaddi League, is considered one of the major sports leagues in the country. HIL consists of six teams, with the regular season lasting two months from January to February, with each team playing 10 games. The top four teams at the end of the season move into the play-offs, where the championship game decides the Hockey India League winner.
Hockey India League was founded in 2013 as part of Hockey India's attempt to get an International Hockey Federation sanctioned league after the un-sanctioned and non-Hockey India tournament, World Series Hockey, began in 2012. The first season took place in 2013 with five teams. Since beginning, the league has proven to be a financial success for Hockey India, who were in financial disarray before the league began. In 2015, it was reported that the federation earned a profit from the league and television revenues.
The most recent champion of the Hockey India League is Kalinga Lancers, who won the tournament in 2017. Ranchi Rhinos, Delhi Waveriders, Ranchi Rays and Punjab Warriors have also won the league.
In 2012, the Indian Hockey Federation and Nimbus began World Series Hockey, a professional field hockey league in India. After the success of the league, Hockey India announced the formation of their own franchise-based league, launched in mid-2012, known as the Hockey India League. Inspired by the cricket league, Indian Premier League, the league was approved by the International Hockey Federation, something World Series Hockey lacked. The league was originally planned to have six teams, which would be established after the bidding was done for the twelve proposed cities that would host an HIL team. However, due to lack of interest in a sixth city, the league commenced in 2013 with five teams: Delhi Waveriders, Mumbai Magicians, Punjab Warriors, Ranchi Rhinos, and Uttar Pradesh Wizards. Before the beginning of the season, ESPN STAR Sports was announced as the league's official broadcasting partner on a five-year deal.
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