After former India captain Viren Rasquinha questioned the logic of Hockey India altering the Indian hockey workforce’s jersey from its conventional blue to saffron, the federation claimed that the change was made attributable to suggestions from gamers themselves. In sharp phrases he posted on social media, Rasquinha had referred to as the choice “embarrassing”.
Rasquinha was responding to a clip Hockey India had posted on X the place it unveiled the jersey for the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium and Netherlands 2026.
“I need to say that Hockey India has finished many good issues for India. However that is embarrassing. The legacy and id of the Indian workforce has at all times been BLUE. I wore the Blue jersey with satisfaction for a few years. Followers wish to see our Indian workforce in blue. What’s the logic of orange?” Rasquinha wrote on X.
Presenting the brand new India jersey! 🇮🇳
Each sew tells a narrative. Each sample, each color carries India’s satisfaction.
Our groups are able to as soon as once more do the nation proud on the FIH Hockey World Cup Belgium & Netherlands 2026.
🎥: Choose 2 (SD+HD)+ Khel & JioHotstar🗓️: August… pic.twitter.com/8GvwbByapq
— Hockey India (@TheHockeyIndia) July 27, 2026
https://platform.x.com/widgets.js
After just a few customers on X criticised Rasquinha for his publish, he countered: “I’m seeing many pointless political feedback on this. I don’t wish to get into any of that. My easy and humble level is on satisfaction, id & legacy. India is to hockey what Argentina is to soccer. Will we ever see Argentina sporting orange and white stripes as their 1st jersey?”
In a video posted by Hockey India on their X deal with, the federation mentioned that saffron symbolises “braveness, sacrifice and victory”, was impressed by the Indian flag and the rising solar, and “displays new beginnings.”
Hockey India’s response
After criticism from a number of quarters in regards to the change of jersey, Hockey India posted an announcement on Thrusday.
“The choice to alter the uniform color was primarily based on assist workers and gamers suggestions and detailed consultations with them. The first consideration was technical. It was noticed that the blue taking part in uniform tended to mix/merge with the blue artificial taking part in floor, which is now the usual color of worldwide hockey pitches. This visible similarity affected on-field readability and visibility for the gamers,” Hockey India mentioned within the assertion.
Story continues beneath this advert
“In mild of the above, the coaches and gamers steered various colors akin to yellow or saffron. After cautious consideration, saffron was finalised. Other than addressing the technical requirement, saffron additionally holds deep significance as one of many colors of our Nationwide Flag, symbolising braveness, sacrifice and nationwide satisfaction.
“It could even be famous that modifications in jersey color are usually not unprecedented in Indian hockey. On occasion, the nationwide workforce’s taking part in package color has been modified as per purposeful and different necessities. For example, throughout the 2014 FIH Hockey World Cup, the workforce’s jersey color was modified to yellow and throughout the 2018 FIH Hockey World Cup the colour was modified to sky blue with a very totally different design. The current change to saffron was applied contemplating each the technical suggestions acquired from the coaches and gamers and the symbolic worth related to the color being a part of our Nationwide Flag.”
What else within the jersey?
The jersey may have mandala sample within the centre close to the torso to “have fun India’s wealthy cultural heritage”. Hockey India additionally mentioned the chest graphic was a contemporary interpretation of the Sudarshan Chakra and symbolised “power, unity, and momentum.”
The jersey may have tricolour piping alongside the shoulders and sides, which “reinforces nationwide satisfaction.”
Story continues beneath this advert
‘INDIA’ is written on the entrance of the jersey in stylised ‘Devanagari’ script to “have fun linguistic and cultural variety.”
“New jersey design embodies the spirit of ‘Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat’ — One India, Supreme India,” HI mentioned within the jersey launch video.
