Tirkey also said that Hockey India’s Executive Board was not consulted before the change was implemented, The Indian Express reported. Following a backlash on social media, Hockey India had said on Thursday that the change had been made following consultations with players and the staff because of technical requirements. The federation said that the change “embodies the spirit of Ek Bharat, Shreshtha Bharat [One India, Supreme India]”. Mails from Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey now out in the public domain. Patnaik, under whose government Odisha became the Indian hockey team’s principal sponsor, said changing the team’s traditional colours was “a crass attempt to erase our priceless sporting legacy”.