From blue to saffron: Hockey players say they were not consulted about jersey colour change

Indian hockey players have denied that they were consulted before Hockey India changed the national team’s jersey colour from the traditional blue to saffron.

The Indian Express spoke to five members of the men’s and women’s teams, all of whom said they were not part of the consultation process. The players, who spoke on condition of anonymity, also clarified that they were not speaking on behalf of the entire group.

“I wasn’t asked or consulted. It is not true,” one of the players told The Indian Express.

The accounts of the five players appear to contradict Hockey India’s claim that the decision to change the jersey colour was taken after discussions with players and support staff.

It is also learnt that some senior Hockey India officials, including members of the executive committee, were not informed or consulted about the decision.

“I was not aware of the change in jersey colour nor was I part of an official meeting where this was discussed,” an executive committee member told The Indian Express.

This comes in contrast to what Hockey India has said publicly while defending its decision. The body said that the change was made following recommendations from players and support staff and after “detailed consultations” with them.

According to the federation, the primary reason for moving away from blue was technical. Hockey India said the blue jersey tended to blend into the blue synthetic playing surface that has become standard in international hockey, affecting the clarity and visibility of players on the field.

The federation said coaches and players suggested alternative colours, including yellow and saffron, before saffron was eventually selected.

Hockey India also highlighted the symbolic significance of saffron, which is one of the colours of the Indian national flag and represents courage, sacrifice and national pride.

The federation said changes to India’s hockey jersey colour were not unprecedented. India wore yellow during the 2014 FIH Hockey World Cup, while the team wore sky blue with a different design at the 2018 edition.

“The present change to saffron was implemented considering both the technical feedback received from the coaches and players and the symbolic value associated with the colour being part of our National Flag,” Hockey India said.

India captain Harmanpreet Singh has also backed the change, saying he likes how the new jersey looks.

“We just played a training match with the orange jersey. I think the new jersey looks good,” Harmanpreet said, dismissing the criticism surrounding the change.

The contrasting accounts have now put the focus on the process followed to make the change. While Hockey India maintains that the saffron jersey was introduced for technical reasons and after consultation with players and support staff, the accounts of the five players raise questions over how broad that consultation actually was.

EX-CAPTAIN SLAMS CHANGE OF COLOUR

Former India hockey captain Viren Rasquinha has strongly criticised Hockey India’s decision to replace the national team’s iconic blue jersey with a predominantly saffron kit ahead of the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup, calling the move “embarrassing” and questioning the logic behind the colour change.

Rasquinha, one of India’s most respected former internationals, voiced his disappointment in a post on X, even as he acknowledged the progress Hockey India has made in recent years.

“I must say that @TheHockeyIndia has done many good things for Indian hockey. But this is embarrassing. The legacy & 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 orange?”

His remarks have resonated strongly, given his stature in Indian hockey. The former midfielder was a key member of India’s 2001 FIH Junior World Cup-winning team before going on to captain the senior national side. He represented India at the 2004 Athens Olympics, featured at the 2006 Men’s Hockey World Cup, and played in the Champions Trophy, earning recognition as one of the country’s finest midfielders of his generation.

WHY THE JERSEY COLOUR MATTERS

The controversy around India’s new hockey jersey is about more than simply changing the colour of a kit.

For generations of Indian hockey fans, blue has been closely associated with the national team. It has become part of the visual identity of Indian hockey, linking different generations of players and supporters to the sport’s history. For former players such as Rasquinha, wearing the blue jersey was not merely about the colour on their backs, but about representing a team and a sporting legacy.

That is why the decision has triggered such a strong reaction from some former players and supporters. A national team’s jersey is one of the most visible symbols of its identity, and changes to it can therefore carry significance well beyond the playing field.

There is, however, an important nuance. India have not always played in blue. Hockey India’s own explanation points to previous changes, including the yellow jersey used at the 2014 FIH Hockey World Cup and the sky-blue kit worn at the 2018 edition. The federation has also argued that the latest switch to saffron was made after considering technical requirements, with the blue kit potentially blending into the blue synthetic playing surface used in international hockey.

The difference this time is the scale of the reaction.

Saffron carries an obvious national symbolism as one of the colours of India’s flag, and Hockey India has said the colour represents courage, sacrifice and national pride. But for critics of the change, that symbolism does not necessarily replace the sporting identity that blue has built over decades.

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