India vice-captain Hardik Singh has defended the national men's hockey team's decision to switch from its traditional blue jersey to a saffron-coloured kit for the upcoming FIH Men's Hockey World Cup, describing the move as a calculated "team strategy" aimed at improving on-field performance. The new jerseys were unveiled ahead of the FIH Men's and Women's Hockey World Cups, scheduled to begin on August 14 and 15 in the Netherlands and Belgium. The colour change has sparked widespread debate, drawing criticism from former players and political leaders.

Speaking to ANI, Hardik explained that the decision was driven by technical considerations rather than symbolism. According to the 27-year-old midfielder, the team's previous blue jerseys often blended with the blue synthetic Astroturf used in international hockey, making visibility more difficult during matches. He said experimenting with a different colour could provide a competitive advantage and improve clarity for players on the field. Hardik stressed that the team's primary objective remains representing India with pride and delivering strong performances at the World Cup.

Expressing excitement ahead of his third Hockey World Cup, Hardik said the tournament is among the biggest events in the sport and comes only once every four years. He noted that the squad's preparations have been progressing well and that the players are eager to compete on the global stage. The vice-captain added that the decision to adopt a new jersey reflected the team's willingness to embrace innovations that could enhance performance, emphasising that success on the field is the ultimate priority.

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Hockey India also issued a detailed statement defending the jersey change, saying the decision followed extensive consultations with coaches, support staff and players. The federation stated that the blue playing kit tended to merge visually with the standard blue synthetic hockey surface, affecting players' visibility and on-field clarity. Based on technical recommendations, alternative colours including yellow and saffron were considered before saffron was finalised. Hockey India added that saffron also carries significance as one of the colours of the Indian national flag, symbolising courage, sacrifice and national pride.

The governing body further clarified that changing the national team's playing kit is not unprecedented. It pointed out that India wore yellow jerseys during the 2014 FIH Hockey World Cup and switched to a redesigned sky-blue kit for the 2018 edition, highlighting that uniform changes have previously been made to meet functional requirements. Addressing team dynamics, Hardik praised the positive atmosphere within the squad, saying there is no hierarchy between senior and junior players. He also revealed that he has focused on improving his passing, ball retention, reducing turnovers and studying opponents' tactical approaches, reflecting the increasingly strategic nature of modern international hockey.

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