Viren Rasquinha believes that the Indian hockey team’s blue jersey is not merely a color, but an integral part of the identity and legacy it has built over decades. From the Olympics to the World Cup and the Asian Games, the world has seen the Indian team in this very color.
भारतीय हॉकी जर्सी का भगवाकरण करने पर बवाल, भड़के पूर्व कप्तान वीरेन रस्किन्हा, बोले ‘यह शर्मनाक है’
A controversy has erupted over the change in the color of the Indian men’s hockey team’s jersey. Former Indian hockey team captain Viren Rasquinha has raised questions regarding this move. Rasquinha is deeply unhappy with the decision to switch the team’s jersey color from blue to orange, describing the move by Hockey India as shameful.
Viren Rasquinha Expresses Displeasure
Rasquinha believes that the Indian hockey team’s blue jersey is not merely a color but an integral part of the identity and legacy built over decades. The world has seen the Indian team in this color across major events, from the Olympics to the World Cup and the Asian Games. Consequently, the decision to alter the jersey color just before a major tournament like the World Cup has left many former players and fans baffled.
Expressing his displeasure on the social media platform ‘X’ (formerly Twitter), Rasquinha wrote, “I must say that Hockey India has done great work for Indian hockey, but this is shameful. The Indian team’s legacy and identity have always been blue. I wore the blue jersey with pride for many years. Fans want to see our Indian team in blue. What is the logic behind the orange color?”
Indian Team Ready for the World Cup
It is worth noting that on Monday, Hockey India unveiled the new jersey for the FIH Hockey World Cup 2026, which is set to be co-hosted by Belgium and the Netherlands. The new jersey has undergone a complete overhaul compared to the previous one; alongside the shift from blue to orange, significant changes have been made to the design. The Hockey World Cup is scheduled to begin on August 15, with the final match taking place on August 30.
Indian Team Placed in Group D with Pakistan
The Indian team has been placed in Group D alongside England, Pakistan, and Wales. India will kick off its campaign against Wales on August 15, followed by a clash against England on August 17. An exciting match between India and Pakistan will be played on August 19.
The Indian team has completely dominated Pakistan in recent times. A total of 16 teams have been divided into pools of four. Two teams from each pool will advance to the next round. These eight teams will then be divided into two groups, after which the top two teams from each group will face each other in the semi-finals.
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