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By Ishaan Kapoor — 30 July 2026 — 3 min read

Concerns over new jersey colour

The decision to adopt saffron as the primary jersey colour for the Indian hockey team at the upcoming World Cup has drawn criticism from former captains Pargat Singh and Dhanraj Pillay. Both former players have stated that the blue jersey has long been the established identity of the team. The debate began after Hockey India unveiled the new kit for both the men’s and women’s teams in anticipation of the World Cup, which is scheduled to commence on August 15 in the Netherlands and Belgium.

Dhanraj Pillay, who represented India in 339 international matches, including four Olympics, four World Cups, and four Champions Trophy tournaments, highlighted that the blue jersey has been associated with Indian hockey for decades. He noted that while saffron is a significant and auspicious colour as part of the National Flag, it has not traditionally been the colour for Indian hockey. He expressed bewilderment regarding the sudden change after many years.

Pillay recalled that teams from the 1928 Olympic team through the eras of notable players like Dhyan Chand, Balbir Singh Sr., Mohammad Shahid, and Zafar Iqbal, including the 1980 Moscow Olympic gold medal-winning side, all competed in blue jerseys. He mentioned that throughout his own nearly 15-year career, the jersey remained blue. He emphasized that players identify with the traditional colours of their national team, distinguishing it from franchise tournaments such as the IPL or Hockey India League, where teams might wear various colours. The only exception he recalled was India wearing a yellow shirt with blue shorts in a match against Argentina during the 1992 Barcelona Olympics.

Rejections of explanations for the change

Hockey India has stated that the decision was made based on technical feedback from coaches and players, as well as the symbolic value of saffron as a colour in the National Flag. However, Pargat Singh, another former India captain, was more critical of the move. He dismissed the explanation that the change was necessary for improved visibility on blue astro turf, stating he had never encountered such an issue. He questioned why, if visibility were a concern, only saffron was chosen among other potential options.

Dhanraj Pillay also questioned the argument concerning blue astro turf. He pointed out that the team has been playing on blue turf for several years without any reported problems related to jersey colour. He inquired if there were any directives from the FIH indicating difficulties caused by a blue jersey. Pargat Singh further rejected the claim that the decision stemmed from recommendations by players and coaches, asserting that such recommendations are not typically made by them. He underscored that the FIH already has India’s jersey colours registered, and the blue jersey has consistently been the identity of the Indian hockey team.

Pargat Singh highlighted that generations of Indian players, from historical figures to the current squad, have represented India in blue. He noted that iconic photographs of Indian hockey consistently show players in blue, and even during their playing days, training was conducted in blue, solidifying its identity for Indian hockey. He also mentioned that while India traditionally had a white change kit, the saffron jersey is now registered as the primary strip. He stated that he sees no logical reasoning behind this particular decision.

Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com