New Zealand to wear special ODI jersey marking 100 years of ties with India

New Zealand will sport a special jersey featuring Indian and Maori designs during their ODI series against India in November, as the two countries celebrate 100 years of sporting ties.New Zealand to wear special ODI jersey marking 100 years of ties with India (@BLACKCAPS Photo)New Delhi,Oct 11, 2026 10:32 ISTNew Zealand have unveiled a special ODI jersey featuring Indian and Maori artwork to celebrate 100 years of sporting ties with India. The Black Caps will wear the limited-edition shirt during the five-match ODI series against India, starting November 4.The jersey, named 'Kotahitanga', features lotus flowers, mandala art and traditional Maori patterns, bringing together elements of both cultures. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said the shirt was designed to recognise the long-standing sporting relationship between the two countries.Three artists, Ben Thomason, Shiv Narandas and Jai Pancha, worked on the design, each bringing different cultural influences to the jersey. Narandas and Pancha chose three Indian motifs for the shirt. These include the lotus, India's national flower, an ogee pattern commonly seen in Indian architecture, and the mandala, whose symmetrical structure complements traditional Maori designs.Kotahitanga | Unity Available now at https://t.co/QmhJAXWozn and selected Rebel Sport stores. https://t.co/FXgQnLO7iI— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) October 10, 2026Thomason added kowhaiwhai, a form of traditional Maori scrollwork, along with haehae lines. The artwork pays tribute to those who have contributed to sporting ties between New Zealand and India over the years. NEW ZEALAND CRICKET PRAISES JERSEY DESIGNNZC Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer Glenn Critchley praised the artists for bringing the two cultures together in the design."We're absolutely wrapped with the design. The artists have created a beautiful balance between a distinct Maori design and a distinct Indian design that speaks to the bond between our nations," Critchley said. "Sport underpins the unity between New Zealand and India and we hope this shirt will be a collector's item treasured by New Zealand and Indian cricket fans for years to come."For Narandas, whose family comes from India, working on the jersey was particularly special."This shirt feels like a journey of our life here. I hope that everyone can feel the energy that's been put into this project and they can wear the shirt with pride," he said.India and New Zealand will first meet in a five-match T20I series beginning October 22 before turning their attention to the five ODIs from November 4.- Ends