Star midfielder Nilakanta Sharma on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, announced his retirement from international hockey, confirming he will play out his final matches during India's campaign at the Asian Champions Trophy 2026 in Jalandhar. Hockey India paid tribute to the Manipur-born veteran, calling his contributions to Indian hockey invaluable across nearly a decade at the highest level.

A Farewell on Home Soil

Nilakanta marked his retirement announcement by making his 163rd international appearance in India's tournament opener against Bangladesh at the Olympian Surjit Singh Hockey Stadium in Jalandhar. He capped the occasion with a goal — his 20th in international hockey — as India romped to a 13-0 victory. Mandeep Singh completed a hat-trick in the 3rd, 10th, and 54th minutes, while captain Harmanpreet Singh (2', 44'), Dilpreet Singh (43', 44'), and Hardik Singh (60', 60') scored twice each. Shilanand Lakra (15'), Abhishek (18'), and Jugraj Singh (46') were among the other scorers.

A Career Defined by Historic Medals

The 31-year-old retires as one of the most decorated Indian hockey players of the modern era. His senior debut came against Belgium in 2017, and from there he became a fixture in India's midfield across every major global tournament. The undisputed peak of his career arrived at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, where he was part of the Indian squad that claimed a bronze medal — ending the country's 41-year wait for an Olympic hockey medal. He also represented India at the 2018, 2023, and 2026 FIH Men's Hockey World Cups, and won silver at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Nilakanta was a double Asian Games gold medallist, having won at Hangzhou 2022 and again at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games 2026 in Japan earlier this month — the latter coming after he was drafted into the squad when Raj Kumar Pal suffered a hand injury. He also featured in India's Asian Champions Trophy title wins in 2023 and 2024, and was part of the 2018 Asian Champions Trophy squad that shared the title with Pakistan. He won the FIH Men's Series Finals in Bhubaneswar in 2019.

Before his senior career, Nilakanta established his credentials in junior hockey, winning the 2015 Junior Asia Cup and playing a key role in India's triumph at the 2016 FIH Men's Junior World Cup in Lucknow.

In His Own Words

Reflecting on the decision, Nilakanta said, 'I discussed that with our coach during the Asian Games. I told him that I want to bid adieu in the next tournament because I feel it's the right time for me.' He added: 'Of course, the Olympic bronze medal was one of the biggest moments of my career, but I feel extremely fortunate to play the last two matches at the Asian Games 2026 in Japan and win another Asian Games gold medal, when Raj Kumar Pal suffered a hand injury, and I was included in the squad.'

On his post-retirement plans, Nilakanta said he hopes to channel his experience back into grassroots development: 'Going ahead, I want to give back to the game that has given me so much and hope to contribute to the growth of the sport in Manipur.'

Hockey India's Tribute

Hockey India President Dr. Dilip Tirkey said, 'Nilakanta has served Indian hockey with great dedication and pride. His contributions in midfield and commitment to the team have been valuable throughout his international career. On behalf of Hockey India, I thank him for his service and wish him success and happiness in all his future endeavours.' Secretary General Bhola Nath Singh added that Nilakanta's 'commitment, hard work and understanding of the game have helped India achieve success on the international stage.'

What Comes Next

Nilakanta will continue playing through the remainder of the Asian Champions Trophy 2026 before formally stepping away from international duty. His retirement opens a generational transition in India's midfield, with younger players expected to step into his role. His stated ambition to nurture hockey talent in Manipur — a state that has produced a string of elite India internationals — could shape grassroots development in the region for years to come.