Blue out, saffron in: Hockey India breaks silence after jersey row erupts

On July 27, Hockey India unveiled the new kit for the men's and women's teams ahead of the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup.

The teams will wear saffron jerseys instead of the traditional blue during the tournament, which will be held in the Netherlands and Belgium in August.

Women's team photos in the updated kit, sponsored by Odisha. Photo: Hockey India/X

Backlash over jersey change

The decision sparked outrage among hockey fans and former players, with ex-India captain Viren Rasquinha questioning the rationale behind abandoning the team's iconic blue jersey.

Taking to X, Rasquinha wrote: "I must say that @TheHockeyIndia has done many good things for Indian hockey. But this is embarrassing. The legacy & identity of the Indian team has always been BLUE. I wore the Blue jersey with pride for many years. Fans want to see our Indian team in blue. What is the logic of orange?"

Hockey India explains decision

Responding to the criticism, Hockey India said the decision was taken after detailed consultations with players and the support staff, stressing that it was driven by technical considerations rather than aesthetics.

"We wish to inform you that the decision to change the uniform colour was based on recommendations from, and detailed consultations with, the support staff and players. The primary consideration was technical.

"It was observed that the blue playing uniform tended to blend with the blue synthetic playing surface, which is now the standard colour for international hockey pitches. This visual similarity affected on-field clarity and visibility for the players," the federation said in a statement.

Why saffron?

Hockey India said several alternative colours were considered before the players and coaches settled on saffron.

"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," the statement added.

The federation maintained that the change was intended to improve player visibility on the field while also reflecting a colour of national significance.