The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Friday announced that India will wear their alternate orange jersey for the first time when they face hosts England at Birmingham on Sunday.
There has been a lot of buzz on social media around India’s ‘away’ kit with innumerable designs doing the rounds. Nike, the Indian team’s official apparel sponsor, released the first look of the kit.
Virat Kohli on Saturday officially unveiled the orange-and-dark-blue jersey that the team will wear in their World Cup match against England in Birmingham.
Blue has been Indian cricket’s dominant colour since the advent of coloured clothing but Kohli, known for his fashion sense, was impressed by the new kit for Sunday’s match at Edgbaston.
“I quite like it. I think it’s right up there. For me it will be a eight (out of 10). Honestly, I am not saying that for the sake of it,” Kohli said at his pre-match press conference.
“The contrast is good, the fit is great. For one game it’s fine. But I don’t think permanently we will be heading in that direction because blue is our colour and we are very proud to wear that.”
Eight of the 10 nations at the World Cup have an alternate kit in case of a colour clash and England also wear light blue, hence the switch.
Sri Lanka changed to yellow shirts against England and decided to keep them for the rest of the tournament as a lucky charm after their shock win against the hosts.
India, unbeaten in their six games, need just one win from their remaining three games to book a semi-final berth while Eoin Morgan’s England must win both of their final games to guarantee progress.
A win over England will confirm India’s semi-final berth. Kohli’s side have won five matches and had their game against New Zealand washed away due to rain. After England, India face Sri Lanka on July 2 followed by Bangladesh. India beat West Indies comprehensively on Thursday with Mohammed Shami picking up four wickets. Skipper Virat Kohli and veteran Mahendra Singh Dhoni scored fifties.