NEW DELHI: Hockey India (HI) on Thursday explained why the Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams will wear saffron jerseys instead of their traditional blue kits at the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup, saying the decision was taken for both technical reasons and the colour’s national significance.The move drew criticism from former India captain Viren Rasquinha, who questioned the decision and said the team’s identity has always been linked to the blue jersey.However, Hockey India said the change was made after discussions with coaches and players, who felt the blue jersey reduced visibility on modern blue synthetic hockey pitches.
Why did Hockey India change the jersey colour?
According to Hockey India, the traditional blue jersey blended with the blue artificial turf used in international hockey, making it difficult for players to spot teammates during matches.“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 said players and coaches suggested different colours before saffron was chosen.“The coaches and players suggested alternative colours such as yellow or saffron. After careful consideration, saffron was finalised,” Hockey India said.“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,” it said.
Jersey colour changes nothing new
Hockey India said changing the national team’s jersey colour is not unprecedented and similar changes have been made in previous World Cups.“It may also be noted that changes in jersey colour are not unprecedented in Indian hockey. From time to time, the national team’s playing kit colour has been modified as per functional and other requirements,” the statement read.“For instance, during the 2014 FIH Hockey World Cup, the team’s jersey colour was changed to yellow and during the 2018 FIH Hockey World Cup the colour was changed to sky blue with a completely different design,” it said.“The present change to saffron was implemented considering both the technical feedback received from the coaches and players and the symbolic value associated with the colour being part of our National Flag,” HI added.
What does the new jersey represent?
Hockey India said the new jersey has been designed to reflect India’s heritage and identity.According to the federation:
- Saffron represents courage, sacrifice and victory.
- Deep navy blue accents are inspired by the Ashoka Chakra and symbolise progress, peace and focus.
- The Mandala-inspired patterns celebrate India’s cultural heritage.
- The Sudarshan Chakra-inspired chest graphic represents strength, unity and momentum.
- Tricolour piping along the shoulders and sides reinforces national pride.
- ‘INDIA’ is written in stylised Devanagari script to celebrate the country’s linguistic and cultural diversity.
- The teams will also have white jerseys featuring the same design.
The 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup will be held in the Netherlands and Belgium from August 15 to 30.
Rasquinha questions the decision
Former India captain Viren Rasquinha criticised the move, saying the blue jersey has always been part of the team’s identity.“I must say that @TheHockeyIndia has done many good things for… 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?,” Rasquinha wrote on ‘X’.He later clarified that his concern was about preserving the team’s legacy.“I’m seeing many unnecessary political comments on this. I don’t want to get into any of that. My simple & humble point is on pride, identity & legacy. India is to hockey what Argentina is to Football. Will we ever see Argentina wearing Orange and White stripes as their 1st jersey?,” he said.
