Hockey India Replaces Iconic Blue Jersey With Saffron, Faces QuestionsNEW DELHI – Hockey India on July 30 mounted a defense of its decision to replace the Indian men’s team’s iconic blue jersey with a saffron-colored kit for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup, responding to criticism that the move abandons a long-standing symbol of Indian hockey. In a statement, Hockey India said discussions within the national team led to the change after concerns were raised about visibility on modern hockey fields. “I must say that @TheHockeyIndia has done many good things for Indian hockey. I wore the Blue jersey with pride for many years.” Rasquinha also said fans strongly identify Indian hockey with its traditional colors, asking, “Fans want to see our Indian team in blue.