Hockey Jersey Row: HI President Says He Wasn't Consulted; Secretary Claims Everyone Aware

Published 31 July 2026 · sports

Hockey Jersey Row: HI President Says He Wasn't Consulted; Secretary Claims Everyone Aware Published By, Last Updated: July 31, 2026, 14:31 IST Hockey India president

Hockey Jersey Row: HI President Says He Wasn't Consulted; Secretary Claims Everyone Aware Published By, Last Updated: July 31, 2026, 14:31 IST Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey has claimed he wasn't kept in the loop regarding the change of team's jersey colour. Dilip Tirkey has written a mail asking for clarification. (PTI/Hockey India) The furore over the Indian hockey teams’ new saffron jerseys has triggered a bit of wrangling within Hockey India with President Dilip Tirkey calling it a decision that was taken without his knowledge and secretary Bhola Nath Singh insisting that “all officials were aware" of the change. The Indian hockey teams, traditionally attired in blue, will be donning saffron kits during the World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium starting August 15. The change in the uniform’s colour, which was announced on July 27, invited scathing criticism from former players such as Vasudevan Bhaskaran, Viren Rasquinha, Ajit Pal Singh and Pargat Singh among others. All of them questioned the logic behind such a move, asserting that it would affect the team’s identity built over decades. Till yesterday, HI, including Tirkey, maintained that it was a purely technical call to avoid visual similarity with the blue turf on which games are played. The body stated that the colour similarity affected “on-field clarity and visibility for the players".

However, in an internal mail to HI officials, Tirkey stated that the decision was taken “without being placed before the Executive Board for discussion and without my prior knowledge." “I request the concerned HI officials to provide me with a written clarification at the earliest, outlining the basis for the decision, the process followed and the circumstances under which the change was approved and implemented. This will enable me to respond appropriately and accurately," he said in the mail. The said explanation has been sought by the Odisha government, which is the primary sponsor of the team. “I have also been asked by the Government of Odisha to provide clarification regarding the matter. I therefore request the concerned Hockey India officials to provide me with a written clarification at the earliest which will enable me to respond appropriately and accurately," Tirkey said. HI secretary Bhola Nath Singh, however, maintained that HI merely implemented what the players had demanded after due consultation. “The decision to change the colour was circulated in our internal group, so all officials should be aware about it. We never thought it would be such a big issue. There was no outside pressure on us from anywhere to make the colour change. It is being unnecessarily politicised," Singh told PTI. Asked whether HI would rethink the decision, Singh said, “I alone can’t take decisions, there is a president and other office-bearers, we need to sit and discuss.