The iconic blue jersey, long associated with Indian sports teams, will be missing at the FIH World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium next month. Hockey India unveiled the new jersey on its social media pages on Tuesday, saying the design and colour of the jersey are meant to "tell a story" and carry "India's pride", and added that saffron symbolises courage, sacrifice and victory.
The jersey also features a mandala and navy-blue accents based on the Ashoka Chakra. India is written in Devanagari font at the centre, and Odisha’s contribution to the sport has also been acknowledged. HI said the chest graphic is a modern interpretation of the Sudarshan Chakra, symbolising "strength, unity, and momentum." There is also a tricolour piping along the shoulders and sides, which "reinforces national pride".
The video ends with the message “Ek Bharat, Shreshta Bharat”, which translates to “One India, Supreme India.”
The Indian team will also have white jerseys with the same new design. The World Cup will be held from August 15 to 30.
Calling the new decision “embarrassing”, former Indian hockey captain and Olympian Viren Rasquinha wrote on X, “Fans want to see our Indian team in blue. What is the logic of orange?”
Interestingly, ‘Oranje’, a signature bright orange, is already an inseparable part of the host nation’s sports identity. Concerns are being raised about India wearing a colour similar to the Dutch in global sports.
Hockey India, however, defended the decision, saying there is nothing political about it. "There is nothing political about it. What's wrong in saffron being the first jersey, saffron is part of our tricolour. Besides, change is always welcome," a senior HI official told PTI. He also added that wearing a blue jersey on a blue hockey turf makes it challenging for fans and broadcasters. "It creates low contrast, where players blend into the pitch. Wearing a blue jersey on a blue turf can make it difficult for viewers to track players," he reasoned.
There have been similar instances in the past in cricket. During the 2019 ICC World Cup, the team wore orange-dominated jerseys but discontinued them after reportedly facing criticism on social media and from players. Members of the opposition had accused the ruling BJP of pushing its trademark saffron colour onto the team.
“The contrast is good, the fit is great. For one game it’s fine. But I don’t think permanently we will be heading in that direction because blue is our colour and we are very proud to wear that,” Virat Kohli had said then.
Ahead of the 2023 ODI World Cup, the Indian team sported saffron practice training kits, which drew hilarious comparisons to the quick-commerce platform Swiggy’s delivery uniform.
