The Indian men’s and women’s hockey teams are set to wear saffron jerseys instead of their traditional blue kits at the upcoming FIH World Cup, which will take place in the Netherlands and Belgium next month. This decision has sparked debate, with former captain Viren Rasquinha expressing concerns about the change. However, Hockey India has defended this move, citing it as a technical necessity for the tournament.
Key Factors
File picture of players of the Indian national team in the iconic blue jersey, during an FIH Women’s Hockey World Cup qualifier match on March 8, 2026 | Photo Credit: K.V.S. GIRI The World Cup will run from August 15 to 30. “I must say that @TheHockeyIndia has done many good things for… 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?,” Rasquinha, who is also the CEO of sports foundation Olympic Gold Quest, wrote on ‘X’. “It may also be noted that changes in jersey colour are not unprecedented in Indian hockey. From time to time, the national team’s playing kit colour has been modified as per functional and other requirements,” the statement read.
“For instance, during the 2014 FIH Hockey World Cup, the team’s jersey colour was changed to yellow and during the 2018 FIH Hockey World Cup the colour was changed to sky blue with a completely different design,” it said.
