The decision to make saffron the main color of the Indian hockey team’s jersey for the upcoming World Cup drew criticism from former captains Pargat Singh and Dhanraj Pillay, who said the blue jersey has long been the team’s identity. “Everything in the country is being saffronized,” said former Indian captain Pargat Singh while criticizing Hockey India’s decision.The debate started after Hockey India unveiled the new kit for the men’s and women’s teams ahead of the World Cup, which starts on August 15 in the Netherlands and Belgium.While former Indian captain Viren Rasquinha also expressed reservations over the move, Hockey India maintained that the decision was taken considering the technical feedback received from coaches and players and the symbolic value associated with the color part of the National Flag.Dhanrajwho has represented India in 339 international matches, including four Olympics, four World Cups and four Champions Trophy tournaments, said the blue jersey has been associated with Indian hockey for decades.“The blue jersey has become the identity of Indian hockey. As one of the colors of our national flag, saffron is important and good but it is not the traditional color of Indian hockey. I don’t understand why it suddenly changed after so many years,” Dhanraj told news agency PTI.“From the 1928 Olympic team to the times of Dhyan Chand, Balbir Singh Sr., Mohammad Shahid, Zafar Iqbal and even the 1980 Moscow Olympic gold medal-winning side, everyone played in the blue jersey. I played for almost 15 years and throughout my career our jersey remained blue.”He said the players identified themselves in the traditional colors of the national team.“It is not a franchise tournament like IPL or Hockey India League where teams wear different colours. The identity of the Indian team has always been the blue jersey,” he said.Recalling the only exception he remembers, Dhanraj said India wore yellow shirts with blue shorts in a match against Argentina during the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.He also questioned the argument that the change was necessary because hockey was now played on blue astro turf.“The team has been playing on blue turf for many years and I have never seen any problem because of the color of the jersey. Is there any direction from the FIH about a blue jersey creating difficulties?” he said.Pargat, one of India’s former captains, was more critical of the move.“Everything in the country is saffronised – education, history and now sports too. This is worrying. Sports bring people together and elevate religion, caste and politics. It will be unfortunate if such thinking enters sports too,” he said, as quoted by news agency PTI.He also rejected Hockey India’s explanation that the change was made to improve the visibility of the blue pitch.“I have never experienced any such issue. Even if visibility is a concern, why choose only this color? Are there no other options?” he asked.Pargat also dismissed the claim that the decision was based on feedback from players and coaches.“Players and coaches don’t usually make such recommendations. The FIH has already registered our jersey colors. The identity of the Indian hockey team has always been the blue jersey,” he said.He pointed out that generations of Indian players, from the country’s biggest names to the current squad, have represented India in blue.“In every iconic photo of Indian hockey, our players are seen wearing blue. Even during our playing days we train in blue. It has become the identity of Indian hockey,” he said.Pargat added that while India has traditionally had a white change kit, the saffron jersey has now been registered as the main strip.“I don’t see any logic behind this decision,” he said.