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 kit at the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup, saying the decision was made for both technical reasons and the national significance of the colour.The move drew criticism from former India captain Viren Rasquinha, who questioned the decision and said the team’s identity was always linked to the blue jersey.However, Hockey India said the change was made after discussions with coaches and players, who felt the blue jersey detracted from the modern blue synthetic hockey pitch.
Why did Hockey India change the color of the jersey?
According to Hockey India, the traditional blue jersey has been mixed with the blue artificial turf used in international hockey, making it difficult for players to spot teammates during games.“It has been observed that the blue playing uniform tends to blend/merge with the blue synthetic playing field, which is currently the standard color of international hockey pitches. This visual similarity affects the clarity of the field and the players’ vision,” Hockey India said in a statement.The federation said players and coaches suggested different colors before saffron was chosen.“Coaches and players have suggested alternative colors like yellow or saffron. After careful consideration, saffron has been done,” said Hockey India.“Besides meeting the technical requirement, saffron also has a deep meaning as one of the colors of our National Flag, symbolizing courage, sacrifice and national pride,” it said.
The color of the jersey is nothing new
Hockey India said that the change in the color of the national team’s jersey is not new and a similar change has been made in previous World Cups.“It may also be noted that jersey color changes are unprecedented in Indian hockey. From time to time, the color of the playing kit of the national team is changed according to the functionality and other requirements,” the statement read.“For example, during the 2014 FIH Hockey World Cup, the team’s jersey color was changed to yellow and during the 2018 FIH Hockey World Cup the color was changed to sky blue with a completely different design,” it said.“The current change to saffron has been implemented considering the technical feedback received from the coaches and players and the symbolic value associated with the color part of our National Flag,” HI added.
What does the new jersey represent?
Hockey India said the new jersey is designed to reflect India’s heritage and identity.According to the federation.
- Saffron represents courage, sacrifice and victory.
- The deep navy blue accents are inspired by the Ashoka Chakra and symbolize progress, peace and focus.
- Mandala-inspired patterns celebrate India’s cultural heritage.
- The Sudarshan Chakra-inspired chest graphic represents strength, unity and momentum.
- The tricolor piping on the shoulders and sides reinforces national pride.
- ‘INDIA’ is written in stylized Devanagari script to celebrate the country’s linguistic and cultural diversity.
- The teams also have white jerseys with the same design.
The 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup will be held in the Netherlands and Belgium from August 15 to 30.
Rasquinha questioned the decision
Former India captain Viren Rasquinha criticized the move, saying the blue jersey has always been part of the team’s identity.“I must say that @TheHockeyIndia has done a lot of good things for… But this is a shame. The legacy and 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 the orange?,” wrote Rasquinha in ‘X’.He later clarified that his concern was to preserve the team’s legacy.“I see a lot of unnecessary political comments about this. I don’t want to enter any part of that. My simple and humble point is pride, identity and heritage. India is to hockey what Argentina is to Football. Will we see Argentina wearing the Orange and White stripes as their 1st jersey?,” he said.