Hockey India's decision to switch the national team's traditional blue jersey to orange for the upcoming FIH Men's and Women's Hockey World Cups has triggered debate, with former India captain Viren Rasquinha openly questioning the move. Hockey India unveiled the new jerseys ahead of the two major tournaments, with both the men's and women's teams set to wear the changed colour scheme on the world stage. The men's Hockey World Cup will be held in Belgium and the Netherlands from August 14 to 30, while the women's tournament is scheduled from August 15 to 30. The launch was meant to mark the beginning of India's World Cup campaign, but much of the conversation quickly shifted towards the jersey itself. Rasquinha, who represented India for several years, said the national hockey team's identity and legacy had traditionally been associated with blue and questioned the reasoning behind replacing it with orange.

Expressing his disappointment on X, Rasquinha acknowledged that Hockey India had done several positive things for the sport but called the latest jersey decision “embarrassing”. He recalled wearing the blue India jersey with pride during his playing career and argued that supporters also associate the national hockey side with that colour. “The legacy & identity of the Indian team has always been BLUE,” Rasquinha wrote while questioning the logic behind orange. His comments have added another dimension to the buildup for a tournament where the Indian men's team will be attempting to end a long wait for another World Cup title. India have been drawn in Pool D alongside England, Wales and arch-rivals Pakistan. The country last won the men's Hockey World Cup in 1975, defeating Pakistan 2-1 in the final. Since then, another world title has remained out of reach. India finished ninth when the tournament was held in Bhubaneswar in 2023, but the team enters the latest edition with stronger expectations following a successful run in major international competitions, including back-to-back Olympic bronze medals, an Asia Cup title and two Asian Champions Trophy triumphs.

The Indian women's team will also enter the World Cup hoping to make an impact. India are placed in Pool D and will begin their campaign against China on August 16, before facing South Africa and England. Captain Salima Tete said ahead of the team's departure that the squad was looking forward to the challenge after a productive training block. She said the immediate focus would be on carrying that preparation into practice matches and then into the World Cup itself, with the opening fixture against China expected to provide an important early test. While both Indian teams are now concentrating on their preparations, the India hockey orange jersey debate has ensured an unusual backdrop to their World Cup campaigns. Rasquinha's criticism centres not on the design alone but on the larger question of sporting identity and whether a colour closely associated with a national team over generations should be changed. Hockey India, based on the information available here, has not provided a detailed explanation for why orange was chosen over the familiar blue. With the World Cups approaching, attention will eventually shift towards performances on the field, but the jersey change has already become one of the major talking points before India begins its campaign.