Saffron jersey row deepens: Players deny consultation as Hockey India bosses contradict each other

Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey said the switch to saffron jerseys was made without his prior knowledge or Executive Board discussion.

Five players from the men's and women's teams told The Indian Express they were not consulted, contradicting captain Harmanpreet Singh's claim of a collective decision.

The Indian men's and women's hockey teams will wear saffron jerseys at the FIH Hockey World Cup starting August 15 in Belgium and the Netherlands.

Hockey India cited visibility on blue turf as the reason, but critics alleged political overtones; former captains and players criticized the change.