New Zealand's cricketers will walk out in a very special shirt when they take on India in the ODI series next month. New Zealand Cricket on Sunday, October 11, unveiled the "Kotahitanga" jersey, a limited-edition design that blends Maori and Indian art to celebrate 100 years of sporting ties between the two countries.
The Blackcaps will wear it during the five-match ODI series against India, which begins on November 4 at Eden Park in Auckland.
What does Kotahitanga mean?
Kotahitanga is a Maori word that means unity or togetherness. The name reflects the idea behind the shirt: two very different cultures coming together on one canvas, much like the two countries have done on sports fields for a century.
The design: lotus, mandala and kowhaiwhai
The jersey was created by three artists. Ben Thomason, of Ngati Raukawa ki Te Tonga descent, designed the Maori elements, while Shiv Narandas and Jai Pancha, whose families have roots in Gujarat, created the Indian motifs.
- Maori elements: Traditional kowhaiwhai scroll patterns painted over haehae lines. The design is meant to honour those who built the bond between the nations and to connect the living with those who have passed.
- The lotus: India's national flower appears as a unifying motif.
- Ogee pattern: A repeating ogee shape, a curve seen widely in Indian architecture, runs through the design.
- The mandala: It gives the whole design a symmetrical framework that sits naturally alongside the Maori patterns.
Glenn Critchley, New Zealand Cricket's chief marketing and commercial officer, said the artists had managed to balance two distinct design traditions, and that he hoped the shirt would become a collector's item for both New Zealand and Indian cricket fans.
A growing trend of special shirts
Cricket boards around the world now regularly release one-off kits to mark anniversaries, causes and cultural moments, and they often sell out quickly among collectors. What makes this one stand out is that it celebrates the opponent's culture as much as New Zealand's own, with Indian art placed right alongside Maori patterns on the Blackcaps' shirt.
Why 100 years?
The centenary goes back to 1926, when an Indian Army hockey team toured New Zealand. That tour is regarded as the earliest major recorded sporting engagement between the two nations. A hundred years on, cricket has become the biggest link, with huge Indian-origin crowds now a regular sight at grounds across New Zealand.
India tour of New Zealand 2026: key facts
| Jersey name | Kotahitanga (Maori for unity) |
| Unveiled | October 11, 2026 |
| Designers | Ben Thomason, Shiv Narandas, Jai Pancha |
| Indian motifs | Lotus, ogee pattern, mandala |
| Maori motifs | Kowhaiwhai patterns over haehae lines |
| Occasion | 100 years of India-New Zealand sporting ties (since 1926) |
| ODI series | Five matches, from November 4 |
| First ODI venue | Eden Park, Auckland |
What it means for Indian fans
Special jerseys have become a big part of modern cricket, and this one is clearly aimed at fans in both countries. With a large Indian community in New Zealand, a shirt that carries the lotus and the mandala is likely to be popular in the stands and online. For fans back home, it adds a nice cultural touch to a busy season, with India's tour of New Zealand following their home T20I series against the West Indies.
The tour also matters on the field. India have often found New Zealand conditions tricky, with swing and seam on offer and windy grounds that test batters. A five-match ODI series gives both sides a long look at combinations, and the Blackcaps will want to make their special shirt count with a strong start at Eden Park.
What happens next
India's tour of New Zealand is one of the longest bilateral visits between the two sides in recent years, and the ODI leg gets under way on November 4 at Eden Park. Squad announcements for the series are expected closer to the date. New Zealand Cricket has described the Kotahitanga shirt as a limited edition, so fans keen on a replica will want to keep an eye out once it goes on sale.
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