RANCHI, India - In what will undoubtedly go down as one of the most remarkable comebacks in Hockey India League history, Ranchi Royals stunned defending champions Shrachi Bengal Tigers 4-1 on January 11, 2026, scoring four unanswered goals in the final six minutes of play to secure their first victory of the season.

The match at the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astro Turf Hockey Stadium began with the Tigers demonstrating why they earned the championship title last season. Employing an aggressive high-press strategy from the opening whistle, Shrachi Bengal Tigers kept Ranchi under constant pressure, earning their first penalty corner within the opening two minutes, though failing to convert.

The breakthrough came in the 25th minute through somewhat unlikely circumstances. Despite being temporarily reduced to a man down due to a green card, the Tigers found the net when Abhishek fired a powerful shot toward goal that was expertly deflected by Ketan Kushwaha, the youngest player in the entire Hockey India League. The goal gave the defending champions a deserved 1-0 lead heading into halftime.

The third quarter saw more of the same, with Bengal Tigers maintaining their defensive solidity while Ranchi struggled to create meaningful opportunities. The Royals defensive pairing of Manpreet and Yashdeep worked tirelessly to keep the score respectable, but as the clock ticked toward the final quarter, it appeared the Tigers would claim another routine victory.

Then came the final six minutes that changed everything.

In the 54th minute, Ranchi captain Tom Boon seized his moment. Dispossessing a Tigers player in midfield, the Belgian international played a quick one-two combination before unleashing a clinical reverse hit that nestled into the bottom corner, leveling the scores at 1-1. The home crowd erupted, sensing a shift in momentum.

Just two minutes later, veteran Indian forward Mandeep Singh found the back of the net to give Ranchi their first lead of the evening. The 56th-minute strike sent shockwaves through the Bengal Tigers defense, who suddenly found themselves scrambling to contain a resurgent home side.

The onslaught continued in the 58th minute when Australian midfielder Lachlan Sharp extended Ranchi's advantage to 3-1, effectively ending the contest as a competition. Yet the Royals were not finished. With the Tigers reeling and desperately pushing forward, Tom Boon completed his brace in the final minute, capping off an extraordinary four-goal surge that transformed a likely defeat into a memorable triumph.

Sam Lane, the tireless midfielder who orchestrated much of Ranchi's second-half performance, was named Player of the Match for his role in sparking the offensive transformation that turned the game on its head.

The victory provides a significant morale boost for Ranchi Royals as they look to climb the Hockey India League standings. Meanwhile, Vedanta Kalinga Lancers currently sit atop the table following their own shootout victory over HIL GC, with the tournament continuing through January 26.

For the Bengal Tigers, the defeat serves as a stark reminder that no lead is safe in this fiercely competitive league, now in its seventh edition after an eight-year hiatus.