Former India goalkeeper PR Sreejesh said the decision to use saffron jerseys for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup should not be politicized.

The statement comes as a response to growing public debate over the color choice of the national kit. Because colors in India can carry significant political connotations, the shift to saffron has sparked discussions regarding the neutrality of sporting attire.

Sreejesh addressed the controversy by emphasizing that the team's clothing serves as a symbol of national identity rather than a political statement. He said the focus should remain on the sport and the representation of the country on the global stage.

"Don't politicise it, every colour represents India," Sreejesh said.

He said the athletes' primary objective is to compete for their nation regardless of the specific hue of their uniform. This perspective aims to decouple the aesthetic choices of Hockey India from the political climate surrounding the 2026 tournament.

"I don't think we should look at the jersey colour from a political angle," Sreejesh said.

The former goalkeeper said the bond between the players and the country transcends the color of their gear. By framing the jersey as a collective national symbol, he sought to move the conversation away from partisan interpretations.

"For us, it represents India, and whichever colour we wear, we play for the country," Sreejesh said.

“"Don't politicise it, every colour represents India."”

The debate over the saffron jersey reflects the broader intersection of sports and nationalism in India. When a sports governing body chooses a color associated with specific political movements, it often triggers a public discourse on whether the team is maintaining institutional neutrality or aligning with a particular ideological identity. Sreejesh's intervention is an attempt to preserve the image of the national team as a unifying entity that exists above political division.