BJP trying to create division through colour, says Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra; former India captain Viren Rasquinha questions the change
NEW DELHI — Hockey India has replaced its iconic blue with saffron as the primary jersey colour for the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, sparking a wider debate on identity, visibility and politics.
The Indian men’s and women’s teams will wear saffron jerseys instead of their traditional blue kits at the World Cup to be held in the Netherlands and Belgium from August 15 to August 30.
Unveiling the new kit on social media on Wednesday, Hockey India said the jersey was designed to “tell a story” and reflects “India’s pride.” According to the federation, saffron represents courage, sacrifice and victory, drawing inspiration from the national flag and the rising sun to signify new beginnings.
The design also features mandala-inspired patterns celebrating India’s cultural heritage, deep navy blue accents inspired by the Ashoka Chakra, and a modern interpretation of the Sudarshan Chakra on the chest symbolising “strength, unity, and momentum.” Tricolour piping runs along the shoulders and sides, and “INDIA” is written on the front in a stylised Devanagari-inspired script to celebrate linguistic diversity. The look embodies the spirit of “Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat.”
Both teams will also have a white alternate kit featuring the same design.
Backlash over identity
Former India captain Viren Rasquinha was the first major voice to criticise the change, calling it “embarrassing.”
“I must say that @TheHockeyIndia has done many good things for India. 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 wrote on X on Wednesday.
He later added: “My simple & humble point is on pride, identity & legacy.”
https://x.com/virenrasquinha/status/2082532920938697029
Responding to the criticism, a senior Hockey India official said there was nothing political about choosing saffron.
“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,” media reports quoted the official as saying.
In a fresh statement issued on Thursday amid the backlash, Hockey India clarified that the decision was taken after consultations with players and support staff and for technical reasons. The federation said blue kits blended with the blue synthetic turf now standard internationally, creating low contrast where players blend into the pitch and making it difficult for viewers to track players. Saffron was chosen for better visibility and identification.
On Hockey India’s official reveal, comments showed a divided fanbase. Many appreciated the cultural elements like the Devanagari ‘India’ script and mandala patterns, calling the design awesome. A significant portion, however, argued to “keep blue jersey as primary” and said blue is the historic identity of Indian hockey. Others politicised the colour, with some writing “BJP ka jhanda pehna dety”
The change quickly acquired a political colour. Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra said changing jersey colour will not change the youth’s thinking and accused the BJP of trying to create division through colour.
Former cricketer and TMC MP Kirti Azad questioned why a religious colour was being imposed on sports, saying performance matters not clothing.
On news pages covering the row, users framed it as “saffronisation” of sports linked to the BJP’s promotion of the colour, while others defended saffron as the colour of sacrifice on the national flag.
Media outlets like The Wire and The Telegraph headlined the row as “‘What Is the Logic of Orange?’: Former Men’s Hockey Captain Slams India’s New Saffron Kit” and “‘Embarrassing’: Indian hockey team goes saffron,” highlighting that the move has put the spotlight on the intersection of sport, identity and national symbolism.
