Hockey India has defended its decision to introduce a predominantly saffron playing jersey for the Indian team at the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup after the move sparked widespread backlash from fans and members of the hockey fraternity. Among those to criticise the decision was former India captain Viren Rasquinha, who termed the move “embarrassing” and questioned the logic behind replacing the country’s iconic blue kit.
The unveiling of the new jersey has triggered a debate on social media, with many supporters arguing that blue has long been synonymous with Indian hockey and forms a key part of the team’s identity. Rasquinha echoed those sentiments, saying the national team’s legacy has always been associated with the blue jersey and that fans would prefer to see India continue in its traditional colours.
WHY THE HOCKEY JERSEY WAS CHANGED?
Responding to the criticism, Hockey India said the decision was taken after detailed consultations with the players, coaches and support staff, insisting that the change was driven primarily by technical considerations rather than aesthetics.
“We wish to inform you that the decision to change the uniform colour was based on support staff & players recommendations and detailed consultations with them. The primary consideration was technical. It was observed that the blue playing uniform tended to blend/merge with the blue synthetic playing surface, which is now the standard colour of international hockey pitches. This visual similarity affected on-field clarity and visibility for the players,” Hockey India said in a statement.
The federation added that several alternatives were considered before the final decision was made.
“In light of the above, the coaches and players suggested alternative colours such as yellow or saffron. After careful consideration, saffron was finalised. Apart from addressing the technical requirement, saffron also holds deep significance as one of the colours of our National Flag, symbolising courage, sacrifice and national pride,” Hockey India added.
Hockey India also stressed that changes to the national team’s playing kit are not unprecedented. The federation noted that India’s jersey has been modified on previous occasions to meet functional requirements, with the team wearing yellow during the 2014 FIH Hockey World Cup before switching to a redesigned sky-blue strip for the 2018 edition.
The jersey debate comes at a crucial stage of India’s preparations for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup. Led by captain Harmanpreet Singh, India will head into the World Cup with a full-strength squad after encouraging performances during the latter stages of the FIH Pro League. With the tournament in Belgium and the Netherlands fast approaching, India aim to end a 51-year wait for a second men’s Hockey World Cup title.
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