Indian Hockey 'Saffron' Jersey Row: HI Says Players Consulted, Team Member Rejects Claim
Indian Hockey 'Saffron' Jersey Row: HI Says Players Consulted, Team Member Rejects Claim Published By, Last Updated: July 31, 2026, 10:28 IST Opinions have been
Indian Hockey 'Saffron' Jersey Row: HI Says Players Consulted, Team Member Rejects Claim Published By, Last Updated: July 31, 2026, 10:28 IST Opinions have been divided after Hockey India revealed it has switched to orange kits from the traditional blue for the next month's World Cup tournaments. Indian teams have worn orange jerseys during training in the past. (Picture Credit: X/TheHockeyIndia) A controversy has erupted over Hockey India’s decision to introduce orange kits for its men’s and women’s teams while doing away with the traditional blue ahead of next month’s World Cup tournaments. Several hockey legends have expressed their displeasure, with Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also reacting. HI, in their defence, claimed that the decision was taken after consulting both players and support staff, besides it also being technical in nature.
However, a report citing an unnamed player and an HI official claims that they weren’t kept in the loop. “I wasn’t asked or consulted. It is not true," The Indian Express quoted one of the Indian team members as claiming with regards to the change in colour of the jersey. A member of the executive committee claimed not to be aware of the change nor to be part of “an official meeting where this was discussed." Captain of India’s 1980 Olympics gold medal-winning team, Vasudevan Baskaran, wondered if HI consulted the government before taking the decision. “I am not inspired when I look at this jersey," Baskaran told The Indian Express. “Since 1928, great Indian players have worn the blue shirts. Suddenly, what is the reason for this change?
Is it the Government’s decision or Hockey India’s? If it is Hockey India’s, then they should have consulted former and current players first." As the backlash continued on Thursday, HI released a statement explaining the logic behind the significant change. “The decision to change the uniform colour was based on support staff and players’ recommendations and detailed consultations with them," HI said. “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," it added. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Feroz Khan Feroz Khan has been covering sports for over 12 years now and is currently working with Network18 as Principal Correspondent.
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