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 jerseys at the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup, saying the decision was taken both for technical reasons and the national significance of the colour.The move drew criticism from former Indian 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 the modern blue synthetic hockey pitches.
Why did Hockey India change the color of the jersey?
According to Hockey India, the traditional blue jersey blends with the blue artificial turf used in international hockey, making it difficult for players to see their teammates during matches.“It has been observed that the blue playing uniforms tend to blend/merge with the blue synthetic playing surface, which is now the standard color of international hockey fields. This visual similarity has affected the clarity of the field and visibility for the players,” Hockey India said in a statement.The federation said players and coaches suggested different colors before choosing saffron.“Coaches and players suggested alternative colors like yellow or saffron. After careful consideration, saffron was finalised,” Hockey India said.“In addition to addressing the technical requirement, saffron also has a deep meaning as one of the colors of our National Flag, symbolizing courage, sacrifice and national pride,” he said.
The color of Jersey does not change anything new
Hockey India said that the change in the color of the national team jersey is not unprecedented and similar changes have been made in previous World Cups.“It may also be noted that changes in jersey color are not unprecedented in Indian hockey. From time to time, the color of the national team’s playing kit has been modified according to functional and other requirements,” the statement read.“For example, during the 2014 FIH Hockey World Cup, the color of the team jersey was changed to yellow and during the 2018 FIH Hockey World Cup the color was changed to sky blue with a completely different design,” he said.“The current change to saffron has been implemented considering both the technical feedback received from the coaches and players and the symbolic value associated with the color that is 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.
- 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 chest graphic inspired by Sudarshan Chakra represents strength, unity and momentum.
- Tricolor piping along 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 questions the decision
Former Indian 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 embarrassing. The legacy and identity of the Indian team has always been BLUE. I have worn the Blu jersey with pride for many years. Fans want to see our Indian team in blue. What is the logic of the orange? “, Rasquinha wrote about “X”.He later clarified that his concern was to preserve the team’s legacy.“I have seen many unnecessary political comments on this. I do not want to get into any of this. My simple and humble point is about pride, identity and legacy. India is to hockey what Argentina is to Football. Will we ever see Argentina with Orange and White stripes as their first jersey?”, he said.