Hockey India hits back at Viren Rasquinha after 'saffron' jersey backlash

A major tradition in Indian sports was upended when Hockey India introduced a new saffron kit for both national squads ahead of the FIH World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium. For generations, Indian hockey was synonymous with the color blue, making the abrupt swap to 'kesariya' an instant flashpoint for public debate. Former men’s captain and Olympian Viren Rasquinha spoke out forcefully against the decision.

Viren Rasquinha slams kit redesign, Hockey India fires back

While acknowledging the governing body’s past successes, he described the uniform change as embarrassing, pointing out that generations of players and fans share a deep emotional connection to the blue jersey. Questioning the rationale behind replacing such a storied legacy with orange, he emphasised that blue remains the true identity of Indian hockey.

"I must say that Hockey India has done many good things for Indian hockey. But this is embarrassing. 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 earlier stated.

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Hockey India lashes out at Rasquinha's remark

In response to the outcry, Hockey India justified the change as a purely functional upgrade rather than a cosmetic overhaul. The organization explained that modern international hockey is predominantly played on blue synthetic turf, which caused the old jerseys to blend into the pitch and compromise on-field visibility for the players. According to official statements, the decision to pivot to saffron was finalised only after extensive consultation with team members and coaching staff to ensure better visual clarity during matches.

"The decision to change the uniform colour was based on support staff and players recommendations and detailed consultations with them," Hockey India said, as quoted by Hindustan Times.

Defending the controversial kit makeover, Hockey India chief Dilip Tirkey pointed to past tournament looks, including the yellow strip worn in 2014 and the sky-blue design from 2018, to argue that shifting color palettes is hardly unprecedented. Former India captain Viren Rasquinha was quick to distance his criticism from partisan debates, taking to X to clarify that his objection was rooted purely in athletic heritage. For him, the issue centers entirely on honoring the sport's iconic legacy and identity rather than scoring political points.

“I’m seeing many unnecessary political comments on this. I don’t want to get into any of that. My simple and humble point is on pride, identity & legacy,” Rasquinha wrote.

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Even with subtle blue accents and national flag elements kept intact, the shift to a predominantly saffron kit carries inescapable political overtones given its strong association with the current administration. Hockey India’s own marketing push embraced this imagery, blending the vibrant saffron base with Devanagari lettering, the Sudarshan Chakra, and the official government catchphrase "Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat." A senior official dismissed the pushback through PTI, framing the primary jersey's hue as a celebration of a core color from the Indian flag and insisting that evolving team looks should be embraced.