Why Naveen Patnaik is Upset Over the Indian Hockey Team's New Jersey Color
Naveen Patnaik's Reaction to Jersey Color Change
Bhubaneswar: The president of BJD and former chief minister of Odisha, Naveen Patnaik, expressed his disappointment on Thursday regarding the Indian hockey team's decision to switch their jersey color from the traditional blue to saffron.
Both the men's and women's hockey teams will don saffron jerseys instead of their iconic blue kits during the upcoming FIH World Cup scheduled in the Netherlands and Belgium next month.
The Odisha government has been a sponsor of the Indian hockey team for nearly ten years, a commitment made during Patnaik's tenure as chief minister.
In a heartfelt message posted on X, Patnaik stated, "I am deeply anguished to know that the legendary colour of the Indian hockey team’s jersey has been changed to saffron," following Hockey India's announcement of the new jersey design on social media.
Hockey India described the new jersey's design and color as a representation of "India's pride" and a narrative that embodies courage, sacrifice, and victory.
The organization emphasized that saffron is inspired by the Indian national flag and symbolizes new beginnings.
Patnaik voiced his concerns, stating, "The iconic shade of blue of the Indian hockey team is not just a colour. It is an emotion associated with the nation’s sporting heritage. For decades, this colour united us in hope, in victory, in defeat and in the pursuit of sporting excellence."
Reflecting on his personal connection to hockey, Patnaik, who played as a goalkeeper in his school team, shared, "We have cried, laughed, celebrated and stood proudly with our men and women in blue. Wearing the blue jersey, our teams have won Olympic medals with the national anthem playing on the world stage."
He further added, "#Blue is derived from the blue chakra in our national flag. It is a symbol of our national pride and identity. The colour blue belongs to every Indian."
Patnaik reminisced about Odisha's historical support for the national hockey teams during tough times, stating, "Every Odia across the globe was proud of the state’s gift to national hockey. After 41 long years, our men’s team won an Olympic medal. Just because the government changed in Odisha, it should not change our national team colours. This is petty politics of the worst kind."
I am deeply anguished to know that the legendary colour of the Indian hockey team’s jersey has been changed to saffron. The iconic shade of blue of the Indian hockey team is not just a colour. It is an emotion associated with the nation’s sporting heritage.
For decades, this… pic.twitter.com/4cgXOvpxdJ
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) July 30, 2026
Highlighting the significance of the blue jersey, he remarked, "Our blue jersey is to us what the iconic stripes are to Argentina, and the yellow jersey is to Brazil. It is etched in our collective memory. Any change in this colour is a crass attempt to erase our priceless sporting legacy. National symbols are meant to unite us, not divide."
Patnaik alleged that the decision to change the jersey color was influenced by the BJP government in Odisha. He stated, "Those in authority may deny it, but the fact is that for the last two years, everybody in Odisha has seen the obsession of this government with changing colours of buildings, buses and even bridges."
He criticized the current government, claiming that changing the national team's colors is the only significant action taken by the BJP government in Odisha. "I strongly condemn this attempt by BJP Odisha to politicise a national game like hockey. It has deeply hurt the sentiments of lakhs of sports lovers across the country and the pride with which Odisha has supported the national hockey," Patnaik concluded.