Murugappa Gold Cup Final Preview: Navy v BPCL, a Rematch of the 5-5 Classic, With a New Champion Guaranteed
Sunday in Chennai gives us a final nobody could have scripted better. Indian Navy against BPCL, for the Murugappa Gold Cup, at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Stadium from 6:15pm IST (5:45pm PKT). Entry is free. And whichever side wins, a new name goes on the trophy.
Both finalists got here the hard way. Navy knocked out the defending champions, Railways, in Saturday’s first semi-final. Navy led 1-0 at half-time through Yogesh Singh’s penalty corner in the 27th minute, then watched Railways turn it around, Pratap Lakra levelling in the 39th and Atul Deep putting Railways ahead in the 55th. K Selvaraj dragged Navy level in the 57th, and Navy held their nerve to win the shootout 4-2. That ends Railways’ bid for a fourth straight title, five minutes from another final.
BPCL’s route was just as tight. Army led their semi-final 1-0 at half-time, Akshay Dubey scoring from a penalty corner in the 27th minute. Anmol Ekka levelled for BPCL from a penalty corner in the 35th, 1-1 is how it stayed, and BPCL won the shootout 4-1.
Why this final has a proper edge
These two have already met in this tournament, and they couldn’t be separated. Their pool game finished 5-5, ten goals and still no winner. Finals rarely play out like pool games, but neither side will need reminding that the other can score against them.
There’s history here too, and it favours nobody on Sunday. Navy lost last year’s final to Railways, 3-1, so this is a second straight final for them and a shot at putting that defeat right. BPCL, meanwhile, topped the pool and have already proved they can win a shootout when the pressure is on. Navy have proved exactly the same thing, on the same afternoon.
For our money, BPCL’s penalty corner threat gives them a slight edge, with Ekka in scoring form. But Navy’s comeback against the champions, from behind with three minutes left, is the kind of win that changes a team’s belief. Don’t be surprised if this one needs shootouts again. After two of them on Saturday, Chennai would probably take that quite happily.
Related:
https://sportscursor.com/murugappa-gold-cup-final-navy-bpcl-shootouts-railways-army-31-october-2026/
https://sportscursor.com/sunday-1-november-hockey-diary-act-chl-murugappa-hoofdklasse-belgium-2026/
