Overview
- Manpreet Singh matched Dilip Tirkey’s Indian record of 412 senior international appearances when he took the field in India’s FIH Pro League game against the Netherlands in Rotterdam, a match India lost 2-3 on Sunday.
- Hockey India and Dilip Tirkey publicly congratulated Manpreet, with Tirkey expressing hope to see him play more matches for the national team.
- Manpreet’s run to the record followed a controversial January omission from the national core probables that was officially framed as workload management but was reported as a disciplinary sanction, after which he trained privately and worked with team mental‑health staff before rejoining the squad with coach Craig Fulton’s support.
- He can become India’s outright most‑capped player in the coming Pro League games in Rotterdam, and he has publicly said he aims to surpass the world mark and to continue toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics while prioritizing fitness.
- A cap counts each official senior appearance; Manpreet debuted in 2011, is the only active Indian with 400-plus caps, is a former India captain and two‑time Olympic bronze medallist, and his longevity places him among a small global group of players with 400+ international appearances.