MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup 2026 Preview: Streaming innovations, returning contenders and old ambitions

The prize money announced is INR 7 Lakh for the winning side and INR 5 Lakh for the runner-up. Each semifinalist will be given INR 50,000 apart from individual awards for performances of note.  | Photo Credit: Aaromal Dcruz

The 97th edition of the MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup got underway with the ceremonial inauguration match in Chennai on Wednesday.

The tournament’s 2026 edition follows India’s tremendous success at the Asian Games, where both teams won gold to secure a place in the LA 2028 Olympics, hoping to reignite the passions of the hockey-loving coastal city.

However, the Asian Champions Trophy 2026 coincides with the tournament, which, according to organisers, will limit the number of Indian national team players participating in the tournament.

The Malaysian junior team, which made history last year as the first international team to compete in this prestigious tournament, will return in 2026.

A total of 10 teams are pooled in two groups with defending champion Railway Sports Promotion Board, Indian Army, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., Punjab National Bank and Hockey Karnataka kin group A, while Indian Navy, Malaysia Junior team, SAI NCOE- Bhopal, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd. and Hockey Unit of Tamil Nadu are in group B.

Left to Right: S. L. Rajiv Reddy, Organising Secretary - MCC, Arun Murugappan, Executive Chairman - Tube Investments of India Limited, R. Karthik, President - MCC and Niranjan Mudaliar, Honorary Secretary - MCC | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Indian Railways (RSPB), will be looking to extend its recent dominance after winning three consecutive titles.

“I think the participation of all the top teams in the country is the real draw. With that, more people are interested, and state hockey associations are sending their teams to participate. While the prize money and the sponsorship are really important on one hand, I think it’s the active participation of national federation which is very important,” Arun Murugappan, the executive chairman of Tube Investments of India, said.

When quizzed about whether Indian Railways will have an unchallenged run this time, Murugappan said, “You can never say with this game. It’s the day which matters in any game, so if on that day that team clicks, it could be Railways, could be Indian Oil, or the Army team that has come very close. The Navy is also playing this year, as well as Bharat Petroleum.”

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Adam Sinclair, a former Indian Olympian and Asian Games forward, highlighted, “The Railways continuously play a lot of tournaments, so their experience in tournament play and having a set squad helps them in this tournament.”

He also underlined how the tournament gives young players an opportunity to showcase their skills in front of prominent coaches and scouts, a chance they rarely get elsewhere.

“I played the MCC tournament for the junior and senior Tamil Nadu teams. I still remember a match against MEG Bangalore, where I had a good performance, and right after the match, the Indian junior team coach walked up to me and said, ‘Organise your passport and come join the Indian camp.’ It was the starting point of my career, and from there on, I went on to play in the Olympics and the Asian Games.

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Punjab National Bank returns to the tournament for the first time since 2019, when it finished runner-up. Former two-time champion Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited has also returned to the Gold Cup after not featuring in 2025. Hockey Maharashtra and the Central Board of Direct Taxes, who were part of the 2025 roster, will miss this edition.

Asked about plans to increase in-stadium viewership, Murugappan said, “The plan is to bring in school students because it is important to include them in hockey, so we want them to come watch the 4:30 p.m. matches to pique their interest in the game and also be able to see how hockey is played at the national level.”

Video referral system made its debut last season. This edition will see AI and data-driven insights feature in the live YouTube telecast, offering viewers “compelling match statistics, standout top performers, evolving players’ trends and key tournament milestones”.

The official group stage on Thursday and the final with will be played on November 1 at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium in Egmore. The prize money announced is INR 7 Lakh for the winning side and INR 5 Lakh for the runner-up. Each semifinalist will be given INR 50,000 apart from individual awards for performances of note.