Auckland, October 11, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
New Zealand’s men’s cricket team will wear a special limited-edition jersey during the upcoming ODI series against India to mark 100 years of sporting ties between the two nations.
The Blackcaps will don the Kotahitanga ODI Shirt, a design celebrating the countries’ shared history, cultural connections and mutual respect. It brings together Māori and Indian artistic traditions to reflect the longstanding relationship between the two nations.
The jersey was designed through a collaboration between artists Ben Thomason of Ngāti Raukawa ki Te Tonga, and Shiv Narandas and Jai Pancha, both from Gujarat. Their work combines elements from the two cultures to acknowledge their intertwined histories.
Thomason incorporated Māori kōwhaiwhai patterns over a background of haehae lines. The design connects the living with those who have passed away while paying tribute to the people who helped build the relationship between New Zealand and India. It also recognises the significance of this bond for players, fans and those working behind the scenes.
Narandas and Pancha contributed three Indian motifs to the jersey: the lotus, India’s national flower; a repeating ogee pattern inspired by Indian architecture; and the mandala, whose symmetrical framework aligns naturally with Māori design systems.
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer Glenn Critchley said the jersey demonstrates how sport can unite people from different cultural backgrounds.
“We’re absolutely wrapped with the design. The artists have created a beautiful balance between a distinct Māori design and a distinct Indian design that speaks to the bond between our nations. 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,” Critchley said.
Thomason said kotahitanga, meaning unity, was the central principle guiding the design.
“The brief said unity and I think the design encompasses that wholeheartedly,” he said.
Narandas, whose family originates from India, described working on the jersey as a meaningful experience.
“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.
The India tour of New Zealand is scheduled to begin on October 22.
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