Hyderabad Toofans produced a remarkable fightback to beat Ranchi Royals 3-2 in the Men’s Hero Hockey India League 2025-26. The match took place at the Mayor Radhakrishnan Hockey Stadium in Egmore on Wednesday.

Ranchi Royals looked in full control early on. However, Hyderabad showed resilience and turned the game around in the second half to grab a dramatic victory.

Ranchi Royals Strike Early Despite Toofans’ Control

The opening quarter began with Hyderabad Toofans dominating possession. They controlled the tempo and pressed high in attack. Meanwhile, Ranchi Royals stayed compact and waited for counter-attacking chances.

Despite limited possession, Ranchi earned the first real opportunity. They won two penalty corners. From the second one, Tom Boon (11’) fired in a sharp dragflick to give Ranchi the lead against the flow of play.

Hyderabad responded by earning penalty corners of their own late in the quarter. Still, they failed to convert and ended the first period trailing 1-0.

Tom Boon Doubles Ranchi’s Advantage

Ranchi Royals struck again early in the second quarter. Tom Boon (17’) scored his second goal with a clever high finish over the goalkeeper, extending the lead to 2-0.

Hyderabad Toofans refused to back down. They pushed hard and made nine circle entries in the second quarter. They also earned a penalty corner and came close on several occasions. However, their attacks lacked a final touch. As a result, Ranchi went into halftime with a two-goal cushion.

Toofans Fight Back After the Break

After halftime, Ranchi Royals dropped deep to protect their lead. Hyderabad, meanwhile, increased their attacking intensity and kept piling on pressure.

Their persistence finally paid off. Amandeep Lakra (42’) converted a penalty corner with a precise dragflick to reduce the deficit. The goal lifted Hyderabad’s confidence and shifted momentum.

Just three minutes later, Nic Woods (45’) struck to level the score at 2-2. The match suddenly opened up, setting the stage for a tense final quarter.

Talwinder Singh Completes the Turnaround

With momentum firmly on their side, Hyderabad Toofans continued to press in the final 15 minutes. Ranchi Royals stuck to their counter-attacking approach but struggled to contain the pressure.

The breakthrough came late in the game. Talwinder Singh (57’) scored with less than three minutes remaining, putting Hyderabad ahead for the first time.

That goal proved decisive. The runners-up from last season stayed composed in the closing moments and defended strongly to seal a memorable comeback win and secure all three points.