'Embarrassing': Former hockey captain slams India's blue jersey being replaced by saffron
Former Indian hockey captain Viren Rasquinha has publicly criticized Hockey India's decision to replace the team's traditional blue jersey with a saffron-colored kit for the 2026 World Cup. While Hockey India claims the new design symbolizes courage and new beginnings, critics argue it undermines the team's established identity.
Why it matters
The change highlights the intersection of sports identity and national symbolism, sparking a debate over whether traditional team colors should be preserved or updated to reflect political or cultural narratives.
NEW DELHI: Former India hockey captain and Olympian Viren Rasquinha has criticised Hockey India’s decision to replace the team's traditional blue jersey with a saffron one ahead of the 2026 Hockey World Cup. Expressing his disappointment on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote, "I must say that @TheHockeyIndia has done many good things for (hockey emotes). 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?" Hockey India has unveiled new kits for both the men's and women's teams before the 2026 Hockey World Cup, with saffron replacing blue as the main colour.
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