Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey said the decision to change the men's national team jersey from blue to orange was based on technical requirements.
The shift in color is significant because the team's traditional blue identity is deeply rooted, and the move to orange sparked speculation regarding external political influence.
Tirkey said the change was intended to improve visibility on the turf. He said this decision followed feedback from players, coaches, and support staff who sought better on-field contrast [1, 2].
Addressing the controversy, Tirkey said the shift from the traditional blue to orange was not driven by external influences or political motivations [1]. He said the new orange jersey has no political motive [2].
The president urged fans to focus on supporting the team as they prepare for the Hockey World Cup [2]. He said the change was made for better visibility on the turf, based on player feedback [2].
By framing the update as a performance-based adjustment, Hockey India aims to decouple the team's athletic presentation from social or political discourse. Tirkey said the priority remains the technical needs of the athletes during high-stakes competition.
“The new orange jersey has no political motive.”
The denial of political influence suggests Hockey India is attempting to preemptively neutralize potential controversies that could distract the squad. By attributing the change to 'technical reasons' and 'player feedback,' the organization is prioritizing athletic utility over traditional branding to avoid the appearance of political alignment.
