New Zealand unveils 'Kotahitanga' limited-edition ODI jersey for India series to mark 100 years
New Zealand unveiled a limited-edition 'Kotahitanga' One-Day International shirt in Wellington on October 11, 2026, which it will wear during next month's ODI series against India to mark 100 years of sporting ties between the two countries. The shirt incorporates lotus flowers and mandala art as principal visual elements.
New Zealand Cricket described the Kotahitanga design as a celebration of two cultures bound together by their love of cricket and said the artwork honours the shared history and respect between New Zealand and India. Artists Ben Thomason, Shiv Narandas and Jai Pancha collaborated on the shirt design, New Zealand Cricket said. The announcement accompanied promotional material for the limited-edition release.
Narandas and Pancha incorporated three Indian motifs as the unifying elements: the lotus — India's national flower — a repeating ogee pattern drawn from Indian architecture, and the mandala to provide a symmetrical framework aligning naturally with Maori design systems. New Zealand Cricket said those Indian motifs were selected to sit alongside Maori elements within the overall composition. The design was presented as intended to reflect the connection between the two nations.
Thomason applied traditional Māori abstract painted scroll designs and motifs — kowhaiwhai — layered over a background of haehae lines. New Zealand Cricket said those elements were meant to connect the living with those who have passed, honour the people who built the bond between the nations, and celebrate what it means to players, fans and those behind the scenes. The shirt combines these Maori features with the Indian motifs named by the other artists.
NZC Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer Glenn Critchley said: "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."
Narandas, whose family hails from India, said it was a meaningful project to work on. "This shirt feels like a journey of our life here. hope that everyone can feel the energy that’s been put into this project and they can wear the shirt with pride," Narandas said. The limited-edition Kotahitanga ODI shirt is by Castore and was advertised as available to buy now at https://t.co/QmhJAXWozn or selected Rebel Sport stores.
India's tour of New Zealand begins with a five-match T20I series on October 22, which will be followed by five ODIs starting November 4. The Kotahitanga shirt is scheduled to be worn during those ODIs.
