India-New Zealand sporting ties celebrations

India and New Zealand are conducting various sporting events to commemorate the ‘100 Years of Unity Through Sport’ initiative, a program established during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s July 2026 visit to New Zealand.

Initial plans included a two-match international football friendly series scheduled for November 2026 in Auckland and Christchurch. While scheduling conflicts with the SAFF Championship in Bangladesh led to speculation that India might send a U-23 or reserve squad, head coach Khalid Jamil indicated a preference for the senior team to compete against the World Cup participants.

Beyond football, the celebrations have expanded to include an esports test match between the New Zealand E Blacks and India on October 25 in Auckland, featuring titles such as Clash Royale and Tekken. Additionally, India is preparing for a major cricket tour of New Zealand spanning from late October to early December 2026. This cricket tour, described as the largest bilateral series New Zealand has ever hosted, will consist of five T20Is, five ODIs, and two Test matches.

As part of the cricket celebrations, New Zealand players will wear a limited-edition ‘Kotahitanga’ ODI shirt. Designed by artists Ben Thomson, Shiv Narandas, and Jai Pancha, the garment blends Maori Kōwhaiwhai patterns with Indian elements like the lotus, mandala frameworks, and ogi patterns to symbolize shared history. However, New Zealand will be without fast bowler Will Orourke for the series; coach Rob Walter confirmed the 25-year-old has been ruled out due to a left leg muscle strain and a calf injury. Recent updates indicate that Mark Chapman and Jack Faulks are also unavailable for the T20I series, which is set to begin on October 22.