New Zealand to Wear Special ‘Kotahitanga’ Jersey Celebrating 100 Years of Sporting Ties with India

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 relations between the two countries.

Named the Kotahitanga ODI Shirt, the jersey celebrates the shared history, cultural connections and mutual respect between New Zealand and India. Its design combines M?ori and Indian artistic traditions to reflect the relationship between the two nations.

The jersey was created through a collaboration between artists Ben Thomason of Ng?ti Raukawa ki Te Tonga and Indian-origin artists Shiv Narandas and Jai Pancha, both from Gujarat. Their work brings together cultural motifs that represent the countries’ intertwined histories and the role of sport in strengthening their connection.

M?ori and Indian art traditions come together

Thomason incorporated traditional M?ori k?whaiwhai 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 the two nations. It also recognises the bond shared by players, supporters and those working behind the scenes in cricket.

Narandas and Pancha contributed three Indian-inspired motifs: the lotus, India’s national flower; a repeating ogee pattern influenced by Indian architecture; and the mandala, whose symmetrical structure complements M?ori design traditions.

Together, the elements create a jersey intended to represent cultural unity through cricket.

New Zealand Cricket calls the jersey a symbol of unity

Glenn Critchley, New Zealand Cricket’s Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer, welcomed the design, highlighting sport’s ability to bring different cultures together.

He said the artists had achieved a balance between distinct M?ori and Indian artistic styles that reflected the bond between the countries. Critchley also expressed hope that the jersey would become a treasured collector’s item for cricket fans in both nations.

Thomason said the concept of kotahitanga, meaning unity, had guided the project from the outset. He added that the final design reflected this principle throughout.

For Narandas, whose family originates from India, the project was a meaningful personal experience. He said he hoped people would appreciate the effort and energy invested in the design and wear the jersey with pride.

The India tour of New Zealand is scheduled to begin on October 22. The special jersey will feature during the ODI series, giving the cricketing contest an added cultural significance as the two countries mark a century of sporting ties.