PR Sreejesh Breaks Silence on India's Saffron Hockey Jersey Row Ahead of World Cup

August 03, 2026: India's new saffron hockey jersey has sparked a heated debate ahead of the 2026 Hockey World Cup, replacing the team's traditional blue kit. The change has triggered strong reactions from fans, former players, and even political leaders. Amid the growing controversy, former India captain and two-time Olympic medalist PR Sreejesh has finally shared his views, questioning why the issue has become so significant this time.

The men's and women's Indian hockey teams recently unveiled their new jerseys before the upcoming Hockey World Cup, which will be held in the Netherlands and Belgium later this month. In the launch video released by Hockey India, players were seen wearing saffron jerseys instead of the familiar blue kits that have long been associated with Indian hockey.

The jersey reveal quickly went viral on social media and drew criticism from several quarters. The debate soon reached the administrative level as well. The Odisha government, which has played a major role in supporting and promoting Indian hockey over the past several years, sought an explanation from Hockey India regarding the decision.

Adding another twist to the controversy, Hockey India President Dilip Tirkey stated that he was not consulted about the change. According to him, the decision to introduce the new jersey was made without any discussion with him, raising further questions about the decision-making process within the federation.

Sreejesh Questions the Timing of the Debate

Breaking his silence on the issue, Sreejesh said he was surprised by the intensity of the controversy. He pointed out that this is not the first time India's hockey jersey has undergone a color change.

"At first, I couldn't understand why there was so much controversy. The jersey color was changed in 2014 and again in 2018. Why is there so much discussion now, just before the World Cup? Is it because the jersey is saffron, or simply because the color has changed? If changing the jersey was such a big issue, why didn't anyone object on those earlier occasions? Personally, I don't have any problem with the new color."

His remarks have added a fresh perspective to the ongoing debate, with many seeing his comments as an appeal to separate sporting decisions from political discussions.

However, Sreejesh also questioned one of the main reasons given for introducing the new jersey. Hockey India has argued that many international hockey matches are now played on blue artificial turfs, making blue jerseys less visible during games.

The former goalkeeper was not entirely convinced by that explanation.

"I have played on blue turfs for the last 14 years. If visibility was really such a big problem, then we should have stopped wearing blue long ago. We have played in every major tournament in blue jerseys, including the Tokyo Olympics and the Paris Olympics."

His comments suggest that the visibility argument alone may not fully explain the decision to move away from the traditional blue jersey.

Despite questioning the reasoning, Sreejesh made it clear that he does not oppose the jersey change itself. According to him, if the players are comfortable with the new kit and the decision has been taken after consulting them, then there is no reason for unnecessary controversy.

"The players are the ones who have to wear the jersey and compete on the field. If they are happy with it, that should be enough. There should be no politics in this matter," Sreejesh said.

With the Hockey World Cup just around the corner, the focus now shifts from the jersey debate to India's preparations for the tournament. Whether the team wears blue or saffron, fans will ultimately judge the side by its performances on the field rather than the color of its kit.