Hockey India switches men's jersey primary colour to saffron ahead of FIH Hockey World Cup

Hockey India has replaced blue with saffron as the primary colour of the men's national team's jersey ahead of the FIH Hockey World Cup, a change discussed on The Hindu's In Focus podcast published August 06, 2026 04:16 pm IST and updated August 07, 2026 11:41 am IST.

The decision has provoked criticism from former players, administrators, fans and politicians.

For decades, blue has been synonymous with Indian sport; the switch to saffron has prompted debate that extends beyond the aesthetics of a playing kit. The In Focus episode examines how the decision was made, whether the federation followed due process, if players and support staff were genuinely consulted, and whether Hockey India’s technical explanation for the change stands up to scrutiny.

The episode features Uthra Ganesan, The Hindu’s hockey correspondent, as the guest. It is presented as part of The Hindu’s In Focus podcast series and includes an invitation to listen to more In Focus episodes.

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