New Zealand Marks 100 Years Of Sporting Ties With India Through Special Cricket Jersey

New Zealand will take the field in a special limited-edition jersey featuring lotus flowers, mandala art and traditional Māori designs during next month’s One-Day International (ODI) series against India, celebrating 100 years of sporting ties between the two countries.

Named ‘Kotahitanga’, the jersey brings together Indian and Māori artistic traditions to represent the shared history, mutual respect and sporting bond between the nations. The design aims to capture how cricket has helped connect players, supporters and communities across cultural boundaries.

According to New Zealand Cricket (NZC), artists Ben Thomason, Shiv Narandas and Jai Pancha collaborated on the design, combining distinct visual elements from both cultures into a single composition.

Narandas and Pancha incorporated three Indian-inspired motifs into the shirt: the lotus, India’s national flower; a repeating ogee pattern inspired by Indian architecture; and the mandala, whose symmetrical structure complements Māori design traditions.

Thomason contributed traditional Māori abstract painted scroll patterns, known as kowhaiwhai, layered over a background of haehae lines. These elements symbolise the connection between the living and those who have passed away, honouring the people who helped build the relationship between New Zealand and India.

The jersey is intended to recognise not only the players who have represented both countries but also the fans and people working behind the scenes who have contributed to their sporting relationship.

NZC Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer Glenn Critchley said the artists had achieved a striking balance between Indian and Māori designs, reflecting the close bond between the nations. He expressed hope that the shirt would become a treasured collector’s item for cricket supporters in both countries.

For Narandas, whose family originates from India, the project also carried a personal significance. He described the shirt as a reflection of his family’s journey in New Zealand and said he hoped people would appreciate the effort and cultural meaning woven into the design.

The centenary celebration will coincide with India's tour of New Zealand, which begins with a five-match T20 International series on October 22, followed by five ODIs starting November 4. The special jersey will feature in the ODI leg of the tour, giving the series a cultural dimension beyond the contest on the field.

By bringing together Indian motifs and Māori artistic traditions, the ‘Kotahitanga’ shirt seeks to turn a cricket uniform into a symbol of a century of sporting connections, shared experiences and friendship between the two countries.