The BLACKCAPS will wear a special playing shirt during the upcoming Hero VIDA ODI series against India to commemorate 100 years of sporting ties between the two nations.
The limited-edition BLACKCAPS Kotahitanga ODI Shirt celebrates the shared history and cultural connections between New Zealand and India, bringing together Māori and Indian artistic traditions through a design centred on their shared love of cricket.
The shirt was designed through a collaboration between artists Ben Thomason (Ngāti Raukawa ki Te Tonga), Shiv Narandas (Gujarat) and Jai Pancha (Gujarat), who incorporated elements of both nations’ cultures into the design.
Thomason incorporated Māori kōwhaiwhai patterns over a background of haehae lines to connect the living with those who have passed, honour the people who built the relationship between the nations, and recognise what the bond means to players, fans and those working behind the scenes.
Narandas and Pancha incorporated three Indian motifs as unifying elements: the lotus, India’s national flower; a repeating ogee pattern inspired by Indian architecture; and the mandala, which provides a symmetrical framework that aligns naturally with Māori design systems.
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer Glenn Critchley said the shirt celebrated the role of sport in bringing cultures together.
“We’re absolutely wrapped with the design,” he said.
“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.”
Thomason said kotahitanga, meaning unity, was the guiding principle behind the design.
“The brief said unity and I think the design encompasses that wholeheartedly,” he said.
Narandas, whose family hails from India, said working on the project was a meaningful experience.
“This shirt feels like a journey of our life here,” said Narandas.
“I hope that everyone can feel the energy that’s been put into this project and they can wear the shirt with pride.”
The limited-edition BLACKCAPS Kotahitanga ODI Shirt is available online through the New Zealand Cricket store, as well as at selected Rebel Sport NZ stores and other retailers.
The Hero VIDA India tour of New Zealand, Powered by AI+ Nova Smartphone, begins on October 22. The full international schedule is available here.
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