Throughout our lifetime, each one of us would have worked on a project. It might have been personal in nature or a school or college assignment. Working professionals too would have handled projects at their workplace. A key parts of any project is the Project Review, where project performance is evaluated. Along with that, there’s another key part—learnings. These point to the lessons that help refine things for future projects.
When Vinayak Padmadeo’s report in The Tribune came out detailing issues in the Hockey India League, it was evident that the federation hadn’t learned from HIL 1.0.
Back in 2022, this website had published an article on the sustainability challenges faced during HIL 1.0. The issues were many—ranging from high operational costs to a decline in revenue streams. Unsurprisingly, franchisees began pulling out just after a couple of seasons. The league folded after the 2016–2017 season.
Read More: Hockey India League- The Past, and The Expected Future (2022 article)
So, when Hockey India announced plans to revive the league, fans were hopeful that old problems would be addressed. But as the league progresses, it seems the same issues are making a comeback.
Team Gonasika Pulling Out
According to The Tribune, Team Gonasika has folded and pulled out of the Hockey India League, citing high operating costs. This also came as a surprise to the federation, who were unaware of the challenges faced by the team.
Hockey India secretary Bhola Nath Singh told The Tribune: “We were surprised why the team, whose owners were very prompt in paying their franchise fee and the way they worked, chose to pull out. We are talking to a few interested parties and will announce a replacement team soon.”
While Gonasika pulling out is a surprise, it’s also worth noting that they were a last-minute addition after another party withdrew before the player auctions. This just shows how challenging it is to run an HIL team.
Unpaid Salaries
Another issue currently impacting the league is unpaid salaries. Two franchisees—Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers and Odisha Warriors—still owe money to their players.
This concern isn’t new. It was also raised during HIL 1.0. In the 2015 season, players and support staff from Ranchi Rays and Uttar Pradesh Wizards (owned by Sahara Group) weren’t paid. The dues back then amounted to INR 2–3 crores.
While the amounts due for the this season haven’t been disclosed, Odisha Warriors—winners of the women’s crown—reportedly owe a significant sum to their players. Hockey India has written to both franchisees, asking them to clear the payments.
Such behavior from franchisees—especially in the first season—doesn’t inspire much confidence.
Read More: FIH Pro League European Leg: Indian women’s team and complete schedule
Reduction in Squad Size
In another report published in The Tribune in April, the Hockey India League Governing Council decided to reduce the squad size from 24 to 20. On the field, this limits player rotation and increases the workload on core players.
But more importantly, it hints at the financial strain the franchisees are under.
Trimming squads also hurts the development of young players—teams are likely to leave them out first. Hockey India focuses a lot on younger players. With this news of squad trimming, development of young players will take a hit.
Hockey India placed a lot of emphasis on building a sustainable model for HIL. But with unpaid salaries, squad cuts, and teams folding, it’s worth asking—were there any learnings at all from HIL 1.0?
The Root Cause: Lack of Revenue
Despite all the ambition, HIL is clearly struggling on the financial front. Revenue is the oxygen of any league. Right now, HIL seems to be gasping.
TV Revenue
Consider this: the IPL’s media rights for 2023–27 are worth over ₹48,000 crore. The English Premier League earns over £5 billion from broadcast deals. These leagues thrive because of strong TV partnerships. These not only bring in revenue but also boost fan engagement.
There’s no information about who HIL approached or what those discussions led to. But the fact is, HIL partnered with Doordarshan—a government-owned broadcaster. Government-owned entities like Doordarshan don’t offer many opportunities to make money. Not to mention the broadcast quality.
Since the first game, fans have been questioning the production quality. Franchisees too have expressed similar concerns.
HIL 1.0 had tied up with Star Sports—who literally built the Kabaddi fan base in India. Yet, HIL couldn’t capitalize on that. And now with Doordarshan, things aren’t improving. Hockey India’s report mentioned 40 million viewers, but the revenue seems to be negligible.
Ticket Revenue
Another obvious source of revenue is ticket sales. But the Governing Council decided to offer free entry for matches. There’s no clear explanation. Maybe it was to boost local turnout.
Still, it eliminated a basic revenue stream. Even modestly priced tickets could have helped cover costs and improve the match-day experience. Free entry doesn’t scream confidence. It screams desperation.
Sponsorship & Brand Engagement
HIL has just six partners. Hero is the title sponsor for three years. Apart from Hero, the league has Big FM as the Radio Partner, Bisleri as the Hydration Partner, and Apollo Hospitals as the Medical Partner.
Sony Sports Network and Doordarshan (Prasar Bharati) broadcast the league as official partners. Prasar Bharati’s Waves is also the streaming partner.
There’s very little public information about the value of these deals or brand investment. That alone raises questions about how much money is really coming into the league.
Trouble Ahead if Lessons Aren’t Learned
It’s not time to hit the panic button just yet. But the warning signs are clear.
Franchisees have pulled out teams, delayed salaries, reduced squad sizes, and struggled to generate revenue—clear signs that the structure needs strengthening.. If Hockey India doesn’t act with urgency, take cues from the past, and work toward a more commercially sustainable model, there’s a real risk that HIL 2.0 could face the same fate as its earlier version.
