Hockey India Shifts Team Jersey Color from Blue to Orange for Enhanced Visibility

Hockey India has officially changed the jersey color of its men's and women's teams from blue to orange, a decision driven by visibility concerns on blue turf. This move, which has sparked some controversy, was influenced by feedback from players and coaches. The new jerseys will debut at the upcoming FIH Men's and Women's Hockey World Cups. Dilip Kumar Tirkey, the Hockey India President, emphasized that the change aims to enhance on-field clarity and that future adjustments could be made based on player preferences. The choice of orange also reflects its significance in the Indian national flag.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 30, 2026, 13:34 IST

Change in Jersey Color Explained

On Thursday, Dilip Kumar Tirkey, the President of Hockey India, addressed the recent decision to alter the primary jersey color of both the men's and women's hockey teams from blue to orange. This change was prompted by feedback from players, coaches, and support staff who raised concerns about visibility issues on the blue hockey turf. The decision has stirred some controversy, with former Indian captain and Olympian Viren Rasquinha and Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra expressing their disapproval.

Reason Behind the Color Change

In an interview, Tirkey mentioned that the new jerseys were introduced in anticipation of the FIH Men's and Women's Hockey World Cups, set to commence on August 14 and 15 in the Netherlands and Belgium. He acknowledged the longstanding tradition of the Indian team wearing blue, stating, "We have a legacy of competing in blue, and I too have played in that color. However, this change is not unprecedented; the team wore yellow in 2014 and light blue in 2018."

Visibility Issues on Blue Turf

Tirkey elaborated on the rationale for the color switch, explaining that players and coaches felt that wearing blue on a blue turf hindered visibility during matches. He noted, "The overlap of colors on the field created technical visibility challenges. The players expressed concerns about this issue."

Selection of Orange Color

The team proposed two color options—yellow and orange—with orange ultimately chosen due to its representation in the Indian national flag. Tirkey stated, "Orange was selected as it is one of our national colors. If players feel differently after the tournament, we can revisit the jersey color in the future."

Future Adjustments Possible

Regarding potential future changes, Tirkey assured that Hockey India would take players' preferences into account. He reiterated, "If the team feels uncomfortable with the orange color, which was introduced based on their request, we can certainly change it to a color they prefer in the future."

Official Statement from Hockey India

Hockey India also released a statement clarifying that the decision to modify the national team's jersey color stemmed from recommendations made by the support staff and players after thorough discussions. The statement emphasized that the primary concern was technical, as the blue uniforms tended to blend with the blue synthetic playing surface, affecting players' visibility on the field.

Historical Context of Jersey Changes

The organization highlighted that changes in jersey color are not new to Indian hockey. For example, the team's jersey was changed to yellow during the 2014 FIH Hockey World Cup and to sky blue with a different design in 2018. Hockey India reiterated that such modifications are made based on functional requirements.