.webp)
Hockey India has clarified that the decision to introduce saffron jerseys for the Indian men's and women's hockey teams ahead of the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup was based on technical considerations, following criticism and debate over the change from the traditional blue kit. The governing body said the new colour was selected after consultations with players and support staff to improve visibility on blue synthetic hockey pitches.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Hockey India said the previous blue playing kit tended to blend with the blue synthetic surface that has become the standard for international hockey. According to the federation, this affected on-field clarity and visibility for players during matches. Based on feedback from coaches and players, alternative colours, including yellow and saffron, were considered before saffron was finalised.
The federation said saffron not only addressed the technical requirement but also carries national significance as one of the colours of the Indian national flag, representing courage, sacrifice and national pride. Hockey India maintained that the decision was taken after carefully evaluating both performance-related and symbolic considerations.
The jersey change sparked discussion on social media after former India men's hockey captain Viren Rasquinha questioned the move away from the team's traditional blue identity. In a post on X, Rasquinha said his concern was about the team's legacy and sporting identity rather than politics, comparing India's association with blue in hockey to Argentina's iconic football colours. He later clarified that his remarks were being unnecessarily politicised.
Hockey India also noted that changes to the national team's playing kit are not unprecedented. It pointed out that India wore yellow jerseys during the 2014 FIH Hockey World Cup and sky-blue kits with a different design during the 2018 edition. The federation reiterated that the latest jersey change was implemented after considering technical feedback from players and coaches alongside the symbolic significance of saffron.