India captain Harmanpreet Singh and former goalkeeper PR Sreejesh have backed Hockey India's decision to introduce a saffron jersey ahead of the 2026 Asian Games, despite criticism from former players and fans. The move has triggered a debate over replacing the team's iconic blue kit, which has long been synonymous with Indian hockey.
The controversy began after Hockey India unveiled the new jersey earlier this week, making saffron the team's primary playing colour instead of the traditional blue. Speaking during a media interaction on Thursday, Harmanpreet said the players were happy with the new kit, while Sreejesh urged people to respect the federation's decision if it had been taken after consulting the squad.
Harmanpreet said the team had already played a training match in the new saffron jersey and that he felt it looked good, brushing aside the criticism surrounding the change.
Sreejesh said he had never experienced visibility problems during his career but stressed that the views of players should remain an important factor in such decisions.
He recalled that the Indian team had worn different colours in 2014 without any issues and said the final decision ultimately rests with the federation and the players.
The jersey change drew criticism from several former internationals after Hockey India announced the switch. Former India captain Viren Rasquinha described the decision as "embarrassing" and questioned the need to abandon the team's traditional blue colour, while Ajit Pal Singh also expressed surprise that a successful and well-established identity was being altered.
In response, Hockey India maintained that the decision was driven by technical considerations rather than symbolism or aesthetics.
Visibility cited as key reason
Explaining the move, Hockey India said the blue jersey often blended with the blue synthetic turf used at international venues, making it more difficult for players to spot teammates during matches.
The federation said the decision followed detailed discussions with players and support staff, adding that the primary motivation was to improve on-field visibility.
According to Hockey India, the visual similarity between the blue playing kit and the synthetic playing surface affected players' ability to distinguish teammates during fast-paced situations.
The federation added that saffron was selected after evaluating multiple colour options and noted that it also reflects courage, sacrifice and national pride as one of the colours of the Indian national flag.
Former players divided
While several former players criticised the decision, others supported the change from a playing perspective.
Two-time Olympic bronze medallist Lalit Upadhyay acknowledged that there had been occasions when the blue jersey blended into the colour of the turf, although he said players had never specifically demanded a new kit.
Former India defender VR Raghunath also supported the decision, arguing that the darker shade of modern hockey turfs can make it harder for players to identify teammates during split-second passages of play. He added that any change offering even a slight competitive advantage would naturally be welcomed by players and said the focus should now shift to India's preparations for the Asian Games.
Both the men's and women's teams are expected to wear the new saffron jersey at the 2026 Asian Games, where India will look to defend its continental title and secure direct qualification for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
With Hockey India insisting that the decision was based on performance-related factors rather than sentiment, attention is now likely to turn from the colour of the jersey to India's performances on the field.
