In a unique pre-season session ahead of PKL 12, Gujarat Giants trained with the Indian men’s hockey team at the SAI Centre in Bengaluru. Both teams swapped sports, shared fitness tips, and ended the day with a jersey exchange.
According to The Tribune, the session built mutual respect and excitement with Gujarat Giants gearing up to face U Mumba on August 30.
[REPORT] Giants Go Hockey: A Training Day Like No Other
Giant players like Himanshu Jaglan, Rakesh Sungroya, Parteek Dahiya, Nitin Panwar, and V Ajith Kumar tried their hand at hockey. Understanding the rhythm, coordination, and strategies of another sport was of greater value than being a skilled competitor.
In exchange, Indian hockey players, including captain Harmanpreet Singh and head coach Craig Fulton picked up a few kabaddi skills. It was more than just a playful swap.
Both teams explored what makes each other tick—whether it was the agility needed to raid or the speed required on the hockey field. Fitness coaches from both sides also shared ideas on injury prevention, strength building, and conditioning.
A heartfelt jersey exchange marked the end of the session, bringing the positive energy and mutual admiration to a close. This gave the Gujarat Giants’ PKL 12 training a new spark of inspiration.
Here is a clip of Gujarat Giants and Indian Hockey team trying each others training session:
[TRENDING] The collab we didn’t know we needed
As soon as the training session’s pictures and clips were posted, people couldn’t stop talking.
Gujarat Giants page posted, “The collab we didn’t know we needed and deserved 💙🇮🇳🧡 Our Giants met the giants of Indian men’s hockey team (@TheHockeyIndia)🏑 at @Media_SAI today and it was a true exchange of sportsmanship, stories and skills. #GujaratGiants #GarjegaGujarat #Adani #ProKabaddi”
The collab we didn’t know we needed and deserved 💙🇮🇳🧡
Our Giants met the giants of Indian men’s hockey team (@TheHockeyIndia)🏑 at @Media_SAI today and it was a true exchange of sportsmanship, stories and skills. #GujaratGiants #GarjegaGujarat #Adani #ProKabaddi pic.twitter.com/XT0JQNFoxl
— Gujarat Giants (@GujaratGiants) August 6, 2025
Telangana Today posted, “Kabaddi meets hockey! Gujarat Giants and the Indian men’s hockey team bonded over drills, raids, and laughter in a unique cross-sport session in Bengaluru.”
Kabaddi meets hockey!
Gujarat Giants and the Indian men’s hockey team bonded over drills, raids, and laughter in a unique cross-sport session in Bengaluru.https://t.co/qJHfrIWiIG— Telangana Today (@TelanganaToday) August 7, 2025
How swapping training sessions helped Gujarat Giants?
This session was unique for many reasons. It demonstrated how highly cross-training and mutual development are valued by modern sports teams.
The Gujarat Giants learned valuable lessons from working with the Indian hockey team that could help them focus better and improve collaboration. Similar to kabaddi, hockey requires quickness, reflexes, and mental focus.
Something amazing is sure to happen when two teams that both represent courage and determination come together. It’s about breaking barriers in Indian athletics and building stronger bonds.
It also sends a powerful message to young athletes. You don’t have to stick to just one path. Learning from others only makes you better. Gujarat Giants’ openness to this kind of exchange reflects the evolving spirit of PKL 12.
Jyoti Sharma’s POV
With this kind of mental and physical boost, the Gujarat Giants set for a strong start in PKL 12. They’ll face U Mumba in their opening match on August 30 in Visakhapatnam.
They have already gained fans across the nation thanks to this crossover. Above all, it served as a reminder that Indian sports thrive when teams unite not only to compete but also to develop and learn.
PKL 12 is looking to be one of the most thrilling seasons yet thanks to unique efforts like these.
