Mainpat Titans will contest the Chhattisgarh Hockey League (CHL) 2026 final against Sanskardhani Strikers on Sunday, after defeating Bailadila Bulls 3-1 in the second semifinal on Saturday, 1 November in Raipur. The Strikers had earlier booked their spot in the summit clash with a commanding 6-3 victory over Nyayadhani Knights in the day's first semifinal.

A Disciplined Semifinal From Titans

In contrast to the high-scoring first semifinal, the contest between Bailadila Bulls and Mainpat Titans — coached by Pradeep Mor and Chinglensana Singh respectively — was a measured, tactical affair. Sandeep Kumar opened the scoring for the Titans via a penalty corner (PC), and that solitary goal separated the sides at half-time.

The opening half was defined by relentless circle penetrations from both teams, offset by equally resolute defending. Neither side conceded unnecessary penalty corners, a testament to the discipline of both backlines. Bulls' goalkeeper Daleshwar Yadav was particularly sharp, denying Mohit Nayak on two clear-cut opportunities. At the other end, keeper Alfaz Khan ensured that Jaskaran Singh's PC attempts for Bulls came to nothing.

Prince Bhagat Seals the Deal

The match was effectively decided in the second quarter when Prince Bhagat extended the Titans' lead with a clinical deflection deep inside the circle, pushing the score to 2-0 with 10 minutes remaining in the half. From that point, Bailadila had little room to mount a recovery.

Prince added a second goal — his brace of the evening — to make it 3-0. Jaskaran's struggles continued into the final quarter, where he failed to convert another PC, unable to generate sufficient power on his effort. Ankit Kujur did pull one back for the Bulls in the dying moments, but his consolation strike only narrowed the scoreline to 3-1, leaving Bailadila's campaign at an end.

Strikers Stun Nyayadhani in a Six-Goal Thriller

The first semifinal delivered everything the second did not — pace, drama, and a stunning comeback from the underdogs. Sanskardhani Strikers dismantled Nyayadhani Knights 6-3 in what is being regarded as one of the finest matches of CHL 2026.

Shahrukh gave Strikers an early lead with a flick that found the right corner of the post. Knights' Adarsh levelled with a field goal, before Chirag put Nyayadhani ahead — 2-1 — just before the 15-minute mark, converting after a midfield feed bypassed the Strikers' defensive line.

The second quarter saw the momentum swing decisively. Ashish Tani Purti converted a PC to record his 13th goal of CHL 2026, making him the tournament's highest scorer. Minutes later, Arbaj Ali netted his first of the competition in the 24th minute, restoring Strikers' advantage.

Shahrukh then completed a hat-trick in the third quarter — first equalising with a field goal that saw him beat two Knights defenders, then pouncing on the rebound after Shamsher missed a PC. That strike pushed Sanskardhani into a commanding position.

The final quarter extinguished any remaining hope for Nyayadhani. Aryan Xess deflected a precise pass cleanly into the goal to make it 5-3, before Om Kumar Yadav, set up by Nishant Tirkey, completed the rout at 6-3.

What the Final Promises

Sunday's final pits a composed, defensively sound Mainpat Titans side against a free-scoring Sanskardhani Strikers outfit that has shown the ability to overpower opponents even from underdog positions. With Ashish Tani Purti in red-hot form and Prince Bhagat finding his range, the CHL 2026 decider promises to be a compelling contest.