Hockey India Defends Saffron Jersey for Upcoming World Cup

The Indian men's and women's hockey teams will wear saffron jerseys at the FIH World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium, scheduled to take place from August 15 to 30, 2026.

Hockey India stated the color change addresses technical visibility issues on modern blue synthetic pitches, noting that previous kits have also been modified, such as yellow in 2014 and sky blue in 2018.

Former captain Viren Rasquinha criticized the move as embarrassing, but Hockey India defended the design, citing the color's symbolic representation of courage and sacrifice alongside cultural 'Mandala' patterns.