Hockey India President Questions Jersey Color Change Process Amid Governance Scrutiny

Hockey India’s true colours are showing. The controversy surrounding the Indian teams’ change in jersey colour deepened on Friday, with Hockey India (HI) president Dilip Tirkey questioning in a mail to the Executive Board, the manner in which the decision was taken even as executive director, Commander RK Srivastava, defended the move, saying it was based purely on technical and performance considerations. This came a day after Tirkey had spoken out in support of the colour change. “The change was not done under anyone’s pressure, nor was it done at anyone’s behest,” he had said. Friday’s exchange of emails puts HI’s internal decision-making under the spotlight, with questions extending beyond the jersey colour to whether established administrative procedures were followed before the change was implemented. The latest controversy, while exposing serious differences within Hockey India’s leadership, also comes at a time when HI is already facing scrutiny over its governance following allegations of harassment involving senior officials.

In an email sent to executive board members, accessed by TOI, Tirkey said the decision to replace the traditional blue jersey with a saffron kit was taken without being placed before the executive board or his prior knowledge. “I wish to bring to your attention the recent change in the colour of the Indian national team’s jersey. This decision appears to have been taken and implemented without being placed before the executive board for discussion and without my prior knowledge,” Tirkey wrote. He clarified that his objection was “not with the choice of saffron itself” but with the manner in which the decision was taken, saying a decision of such significance should have been discussed with the elected leadership and the executive board before implementation. Tirkey also revealed that the Odisha govt had sought a clarification from him.

In a separate email to Srivastava, Tirkey directed that a detailed note be circulated to all executive board members, explaining who authorised the jersey colour change, who was involved in the decision and why neither the president nor the executive board was consulted before it was announced. Responding to the directive, Srivastava sent a four-page note defending the decision. The note, also accessed by TOI, states that the switch to the saffron kit was made solely on technical grounds, arguing that the colour offers superior visual contrast against modern blue hockey pitches, thereby improving player identification and on-field decision-making. The note said the decision was based on feedback from the coaching staff and senior players and had no political motivation. It also maintained that executive board approval was not required for such operational decisions. “In the past also the format of jersey, including pattern/colour, has been changed only on the basis of feedback and decision of the players & coaches. Earlier also there has been no committee or any approval taken from the executive board. One such recent change was done in Nov/Dec 2022,” the note said.

HI executive board member and federation vice-president Asima Ali also questioned the process behind the decision. “Indian national team’s jersey change for the upcoming World Cup hockey to saffron cannot be a sole choice; rather, it needs to be approved by the board of Hockey India first, in order to maintain transparency and accountability. It is not about the saffron colour, but my concern is regarding accountability and transparency,” she wrote on Instagram.

The controversy comes amid an ongoing inquiry into allegations involving Hockey India's secretary general, Bhola Nath Singh. Former India captain and current selector Asunta Lakra has alleged that Singh threatened her after she raised concerns over the handling of a sexual harassment complaint against a coach. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports subsequently directed Hockey India to place Lakra's complaint before its Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) and conduct an independent inquiry.