Rohit Sharma blocks controversial kit change to uphold Muslim players' pride

The 2023 World Cup saw Pakistan's poor performance peak with a heavy loss to India. But the real drama happened off the field, with claims that the BCCI and the ruling BJP government tried to stir anti-Muslim feelings during the event. 

One key controversy involved a proposed change in the Indian cricket team's kit before their match against Pakistan.

Just before the match in Ahmedabad, the BCCI wanted to change India's traditional blue jersey to an all-orange one. Critics said this was to promote a Hindu India versus Muslim Pakistan narrative. Fans and players, including Indian captain Rohit Sharma, opposed the move, and it was eventually stopped.

BCCI treasurer Aishish Shelar called the allegations “absolutely baseless,” but sources from the team, the ICC, and the BCCI confirmed the orange kit existed. It was shown to the team two days before the game.

A week before their first game, Indian players got new training kits with orange shirts and dark trousers. Soon after, the idea of an all-orange match kit came up. According to Sharda Ogra, a renowned investigative journalist, players raised concerns that the kit was “disrespectful to some members of the team,” referring to Muslim players Mohammad Shami and Mohammad Siraj.

Rohit Sharma decided to keep the traditional blue colors for the home World Cup, making it clear: “Not on our watch, not here, not today.”

The incident highlighted a broader issue of the BCCI's alleged hypocrisy. During the same tournament, Pakistani players faced restrictions on mentioning Palestine or performing prayers on the field, further fueling the controversy.

This episode highlighted the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan and how sports and politics often mix. Despite claiming to keep politics out of sports, the BCCI's actions during the World Cup suggested otherwise.