Why India’s Hockey Jersey Turned Saffron for World Cup

Hockey India has officially clarified its decision to replace the Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams’ traditional blue jersey with a saffron jersey for the upcoming FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, saying the move was driven purely by technical considerations and not by any other agenda.

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The controversy erupted after Hockey India unveiled the new jersey on July 27, confirming that both Indian teams would wear saffron kits during the World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium. The announcement triggered widespread debate, with many fans questioning the decision to abandon India’s iconic blue jersey.

Among the strongest voices was former India captain Viren Rasquinha, whose social media post questioning the change quickly went viral and intensified the discussion.

Responding to the criticism, Hockey India explained that the decision was made after consultations with the coaching staff and players. According to the federation, modern international hockey is played on blue synthetic turfs, making blue jerseys blend into the playing surface and affecting player visibility.

“The decision was taken after discussions with the support staff and players. Blue jerseys merge with the blue turf, reducing on-field visibility and clarity. The colour change is intended to improve player recognition during matches,” Hockey India said in its official statement.

Following the viral debate, Viren Rasquinha clarified that his comments were being unnecessarily politicised. He stressed that his concern was about preserving India’s sporting identity and tradition rather than making any political statement.

“My post is being unnecessarily politicised. I do not want to be part of that debate. My concern is about pride, identity and tradition. Just as Argentina is identified by its blue and white colours in football, India has its own identity in hockey,” Rasquinha said.

Hockey India also revealed that yellow and saffron were both considered as alternative jersey colours before the final decision was made. The federation stated that saffron was ultimately selected because it is a part of the Indian national flag and symbolises courage, sacrifice and national pride.

Officials further pointed out that India has changed its World Cup jersey colours before. The national team wore yellow jerseys during the 2014 Hockey World Cup and sky-blue kits in the 2018 edition, making the latest change part of an evolving strategy based on playing conditions rather than tradition alone.

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