When the Indian men’s hockey team gets its World Cup campaign underway here on Saturday against Wales, casual viewers would be forgiven for mistaking it for co-host the Netherlands. The blue, which has been synonymous with Indian hockey, has been controversially painted over by saffron.

While Hockey India (HI) has sought to explain the logic behind the move, questions remain over who authorised it in the first place. The headlines in the lead-up to the World Cups were dominated by the boardroom decision and had had little to do with the Indian men’s and women’s teams’ prospects.

Everyone involved will now hope there is something more substantial to talk about from Saturday. Although retaining the Asian Games gold medal seems like the more plausible target in the next two months, there is a real yearning for India to regain some of its past glory in the global showpiece. India’s only triumph came 51 years ago and in the 12 editions since, the best has been a fifth-place finish in 1982 and 1994.

Having fallen to No. 8 in the rankings, after a dismal Pro League campaign, India is a rank outsider in the mega event in the Netherlands and Belgium. Craig Fulton, who oversaw a collective improvement in the European leg of the Pro League, will hope his side doesn’t fall into familiar defensive lapses as it did in the first four months of the year. This Indian team has plenty of big-tournament experience to bank on. Captain Harmanpreet Singh, Manpreet Singh, Mandeep Singh and Amit Rohidas are veterans of several multi-nation tournaments. Yet, what might set apart Fulton’s men from the title contenders — Belgium, the Netherlands, England and Australia — is the depth in quality with proven match-winners across the pitch.

This will also be the first major tournament since P.R. Sreejesh’s retirement. The subsequent axing of Krishan Pathak, Sreejesh’s long-viewed successor earlier this year, has only added further scrutiny to India’s defensive woes. But after a shaky period, both Suraj Karkera and newcomer Mohith H.S., in particular, have impressed under the Indian goal.

India cannot afford any slip-ups in the new format. A strong start in the first round will be paramount for its ambitions of a deep run with the Netherlands and Argentina potentially awaiting in the next round.

On the Independence Day, the ‘new-look’ team will have the first opportunity to put behind questionable decision-making, both on and off the field, to show there is more at stake than the colour of the Indian jersey.

India’s first round fixtures:

Aug. 15: vs. Wales, 4.30 p.m. IST.

Aug. 17: England, 6.30 p.m.

Aug. 19: Pakistan, 6.30 p.m.

Published - August 14, 2026 09:27 pm IST