Two-time finalists Jaypee Punjab Warriors have decided to retain six of their key players for the upcoming two seasons of the Hockey India League.
Punjab have retained the Australian trio of Christopher Ciriello, Mark Knowles and Jacob Whetton and India's experienced forward player SV Sunil along with young talents Satbir Singh and Varun Kumar for the fourth and fifth seasons.
Australia's legendary drag flicker Ciriello is among the core group of players who have been with the team since the first season.
The penalty corner specialist scored three goals in the first season and two in the second. Ciriello displayed his best performance in this year's HIL where he scored four goals through penalty corners, which helped his team to reach the final of the League.
His fellow countrymen Mark Knowles is a key member of the defence, who keeps the defence-line intact. He scored three goals in the 2014 HIL and one goal in 2015 HIL.
Among the Indian players, SV Sunil is a regular member of the team and will solidify the forward line. The young guns Satbir Singh and Varun Kumar will again get the opportunity to play with the world's best players and show their skills.
In the last three seasons, Jaypee Punjab Warriors played with the worlds best players, including Sandeep Singh, Australia's Jamie Dwyer, Kieran Govers and Simon Orchard along with Jaap Stockmann (The Netherlands) and Lucas Ray (Argentina).
With the top-line players of the world available for the Hockey India League, Jaypee Punjab Warriors were able to reach the final in 2014 and 2015, though they lost both the finals.
