Wellington: The New Zealand men's cricket team will don a distinctive, limited-edition playing kit adorned with lotus blossoms and mandala artwork during next year's One-Day International series against India, commemorating a century of athletic relations between the two cricketing nations.

Entitled the 'Kotahitanga' shirt, the ODI jersey symbolises two distinct cultures unified through a shared passion for cricket, employing a visual narrative that honours the mutual heritage and respect binding New Zealand and India.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced that artists Ben Thomason, Shiv Narandas, and Jai Pancha collaborated to create the unique garment.

Narandas and Pancha incorporated three traditional Indian motifs as unifying elements: the lotus, representing India's national flower; a repeating ogee architectural pattern; and mandala geometry, which provides a symmetrical framework blending seamlessly with indigenous Māori design aesthetics.

Concurrently, Thomason integrated traditional Māori painted scrollwork and scroll motifs, known as kōwhaiwhai, across a backdrop of haehae parallel lines. This design element bridges the living with ancestors, pays tribute to the individuals who established bilateral sporting ties, and celebrates the collective identity of players, supporters, and backroom staff.

NZC Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer Glenn Critchley expressed enthusiasm over the collaborative project.

"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," Critchley remarked.

"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 originates from India, noted that contributing to the initiative carried profound personal significance.

"This shirt feels like a journey of our life here. I hope that everyone can feel the energy that's been put into this project and they can wear the shirt with pride," Narandas stated.

India's forthcoming tour of New Zealand commences with a five-match T20 International series on October 22, followed immediately by a five-match ODI rubber starting on November 4.

PTI