Jarmanpreet to Lead SG Pipers Men, Navneet Keeps Women’s Captaincy for Hockey India League Season 2

SG Pipers have put their trust in two of India’s most respected Olympians. The franchise announced its leadership group for Season 2 of the Hockey India League ahead of Season 2, with defender Jarmanpreet Singh leading the men’s side and star forward Navneet Kaur keeping the women’s captaincy.

Jarmanpreet gets the men’s armband, with Australian midfielder Ky Willott as his vice-captain. On the women’s side, Navneet retains the captaincy she already held, with Australia’s Kaitlin Nobbs coming in as vice-captain ahead of her first season with the Pipers. It’s a statement of intent from a franchise that didn’t hide its disappointment last season: the Pipers said openly that they planned around last season’s shortcomings, working through the mini auction with director of hockey P. R. Sreejesh, head coach Sofie Gierts and assistant coach Helen Mary alongside the senior players.

The dates are set. The women’s league starts on 28 December and the men’s on 3 January, so the Pipers’ leadership group has just under two months to gel before the real thing. Jarmanpreet is one of the most experienced defenders in the Indian setup, and Navneet’s retention says plenty about how the franchise rates her influence on and off the turf. With Willott and Nobbs, both Australians with big-tournament experience, as deputies, the Pipers have gone for a blend of Indian leadership and overseas know-how.

For our money, captaincy calls like this matter more than auction headlines. The Pipers have built their squads; now they’ve picked the people who have to hold them together when the season gets tight.