Hockey India Defends Saffron WC Jersey Choice

New Delhi, July 30 — Hockey India on Thursday issued a detailed clarification on the controversy surrounding the national team’s new saffron-coloured kit for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup, stating that the colour was selected for both practical on-field reasons and its symbolic link to the Indian national flag.

The federation unveiled the saffron jersey earlier this week in place of the traditional blue kit for the tournament to be jointly hosted by the Netherlands and Belgium next month. The change quickly drew criticism, including from former India captain Viren Rasquinha, who questioned the departure from the team’s long-associated blue colours. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and 1983 World Cup-winning cricketer and Trinamool Congress MP Kirti Azad also publicly criticised the decision.

In its statement, Hockey India emphasised that the switch originated from within the national team setup after discussions with players and support staff. “We wish to inform you that the decision to change the uniform colour was based on support staff and players’ recommendations and detailed consultations with them. The primary consideration was technical. It was observed that the blue playing uniform tended to blend/merge with the blue synthetic playing surface, which is now the standard colour of international hockey pitches. This visual similarity affected on-field clarity and visibility for the players,” the federation said.