Top 10 popular jerseys in Indian football in recent times

The following kits are very popular amongst the fans of Indian football too.

A football kit is not simply a piece of clothing one wears to play the sport. Rather, it is so much more. They often represent the teams, their history, what they stand for and the passion of their fans. It is the armour that a player wears before heading out to battle on the football pitch. A new version of an Indian football jersey releases every year, depending on the club and the kit manufacturer. For the national teams, that might be less frequent. However, extra care is put into the making of the jerseys, especially in modern times, as they serve the purpose of representation. Fans of any club and national team purchase the same jerseys that players wear (albeit replicas) to show their support from the stands. 

The colours and designs of a jersey also complement and incorporate the culture of a football club. Staying with the theme of football kits, here is a look at the top 10 football jerseys in Indian football that were iconic.

10. Blue Tigress

The kit manufacturers, Six5Six, have done a good job providing kits for the Indian national teams (both men and women). For the prestigious AFC Asian Cup, the manufacturers released the “Blue Tigress” kit, which had horizontal lines with a tiger print on the jersey. Unfortunately, India lost the chance to qualify for the FIFA Women's World Cup after a COVID-19 outbreak. 

9. Mumbai City FC 2021-22

Mumbai City FC is today one of the biggest clubs in Indian football. It holds several records, including being the first-ever Indian club to record a win at the AFC Champions League. They wear a sky-blue coloured jersey from Puma as the home kit. It is iconic as it connects the club to its sister clubs like Manchester City and New York City, etc. which are owned by the City Football Group.

8. SC East Bengal 2020-21 Alternative Kit

SC East Bengal’s inclusion into the Indian Super League was a cause for celebration in 2020-21. In addition to the Red & Gold home jersey and a white themed away jersey, the club also had an alternative (third) kit. It took inspiration from a royal Bengal tiger, with a tiger’s fur graphic on the waist. 

7. Mohammedan SC 2020-21

Mohammedan SC is one of the most decorated and historically significant clubs in Kolkata. The outfit is nicknamed ‘the Black Panthers’. Inspired by this name, and to kick off the new era under new investors Bunkerhill, the club launched a kit similar to the suit of the Black Panther from the Marvel comics and movies.

6. Atletico de Kolkata (ATK)

Before ATK Mohun Bagan came into existence, there was Atletico de Kolkata. In the initial years of the ISL, the club was born with a tie-up with Atletico Madrid of La Liga. Due to the connection, they had a jersey in white with red stripes, similar to the side in Madrid. The white and red jersey became iconic and popular amongst the fans. Wearing it, the club dominated the early years of ISL. 

5. India Tigris Vena Jersey

The first jersey Six5Six made for the Indian men’s national team was the ‘Tigris Vena’. It became an instant fan-favourite. The tiger-like graphic on the shoulder was representative of the Indian national team’s nickname, the Blue Tigers. Today, there is a Panthera Tigris jersey for the national team which is also hugely popular.  

4. ATK Mohun Bagan

ATK Mohun Bagan’s inception as a club was iconic in itself. In addition, the club adopted colours from Mohun Bagan’s kit. The iconic maroon & green theme with stripes for the home jersey is one of the most recognisable kits in Indian football. The away jersey by Nivia also includes green and maroon stripes in the centre. 

3. Kerala Blasters FC

Kerala Blasters FC’s yellow home kit is iconic for multiple reasons. The club is also called the Yellow Army and since the ISL began, KBFC has worn yellow as their home kit colour. The club has one of the strongest fanbases in India and each supporter wearing the yellow home jersey makes it seem that a yellow wave inside the stadium has taken over. The 2021-22 jersey was also a tribute to the heroes of 1973 who brought home the iconic Santosh Trophy.

2. Gokulam Kerala FC 2021-22 Away

The away kit by Gokulam Kerala FC for the 2021-22 season paid tribute to women in football. According to the club’s website, the description of the away jersey reads, “The imprint used on the jersey is of the iconic photo from 1987 taken during Nehru Cup held at Kozhikode EMS Corporation Stadium. The photo depicts a gallery full of women attendees.” 

1. SC East Bengal 2021-22 Home

The red & gold themed jersey worn by SC East Bengal is easily one of the most iconic jerseys in Indian football. For many decades, the club has worn those colours and won multiple trophies. The club is also popularly known as the Red & Gold Brigade because of the iconic colour combination. Even today, SC East Bengal’s home jersey is very popular amongst the fans.