Gill, Kohli and Rohit get personalised All Blacks jerseys from Keven Mealamu at Eden Park
Synopsis
Ahead of the first ODI at Eden Park, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma were welcomed into the All Blacks family by rugby great Keven Mealamu, who presented each with a personalised jersey bearing their cricket number. The moment came as India and New Zealand mark a century of sporting ties dating back to Dhyan Chand's 1926 hockey tour.
Key Takeaways
Shubman Gill , Virat Kohli , and Rohit Sharma received personalised All Blacks jerseys at Eden Park , Auckland on 4 November 2026 .
Rugby legend Keven Mealamu , who played 132 Tests and won the Rugby World Cup in 2011 and 2015 , made the presentation.
Gill received jersey number 77 , Kohli number 18 , and Rohit number 45 — their respective cricket jersey numbers.
The gesture is part of centenary celebrations marking 100 years of India-New Zealand sporting ties, tracing back to Dhyan Chand's 1926 hockey tour.
India lead the ongoing tour having won the T20I series 3-2 ; the five-match ODI series and two Tests in Wellington and Christchurch follow.
Cricket and rugby royalty converged at Eden Park in Auckland on 4 November 2026, as India captain Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma received personalised All Blacks jerseys from New Zealand rugby legend Keven Mealamu, ahead of the first ODI of a five-match series between the two nations.
The Presentation at Eden Park
Mealamu formally welcomed the three Indian cricketers into the All Blacks family during a special interaction at the iconic Auckland venue. Each jersey bore the player's cricket number: Gill received number 77, Kohli was presented with number 18, and Rohit was handed number 45. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) described the exchange as a special moment involving three of India's biggest stars and one of New Zealand rugby's most celebrated figures.
Who Is Keven Mealamu
Mealamu is among the most decorated hookers in rugby history, having represented the All Blacks in 132 Tests. He was a key member of the squads that lifted the Rugby World Cup in both 2011 and 2015. Eden Park itself carries immense rugby significance — the stadium anchors the All Blacks' extraordinary 54-match unbeaten home run that began in 1994.
The Centenary Context
The gesture carried weight beyond the two sporting disciplines. The ongoing tour forms part of celebrations marking 100 years of sporting ties between India and New Zealand, a relationship that dates to 1926, when an Indian Army hockey team featuring the legendary Dhyan Chand undertook a historic tour of New Zealand. The meeting between Mealamu and India's cricket icons serves as a symbolic bridge across a century of shared sporting heritage.
Series and Tour Update
India had already completed the five-match T20I series before the ODI leg, winning 3-2. The five-match ODI series, which opened at Eden Park on 4 November, will be followed by two Test matches in Wellington and Christchurch. New Zealand are also wearing a special limited-edition Kotahitanga ODI jersey to commemorate the shared cultural and sporting milestone. Notably, the BCCI shared photographs of the interaction on social media, amplifying the crossover moment to cricket fans across the globe.
Point of View
But it points to something more substantive: India and New Zealand have invested in framing this cricket tour as a centenary cultural event, not just a bilateral series. That framing — anchored by the 1926 Dhyan Chand hockey connection — elevates the tour's diplomatic and commercial value at a time when cricket boards are competing for narrative space. For the BCCI, moments like these build the Indian team's global brand beyond cricket. For New Zealand Cricket, it is an opportunity to draw national pride from the All Blacks' mana. What mainstream coverage tends to miss is that the Kotahitanga jersey worn by the hosts signals a deliberate indigenous cultural dimension — one that goes beyond the sport itself.
NationPress
4 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who presented the All Blacks jerseys to Gill, Kohli, and Rohit?
Former New Zealand rugby hooker Keven Mealamu presented the jerseys at Eden Park in Auckland on 4 November 2026. Mealamu played 132 Tests for the All Blacks and was part of the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cup-winning squads.
What numbers were on the personalised All Blacks jerseys?
Shubman Gill received number 77, Virat Kohli was given number 18, and Rohit Sharma received number 45 — each corresponding to their established cricket jersey numbers.
Why is the India-New Zealand tour significant beyond cricket?
The all-format tour marks 100 years of sporting ties between the two countries, dating to 1926 when an Indian Army hockey team featuring Dhyan Chand toured New Zealand. The centenary is being commemorated through cultural gestures including the All Blacks jersey presentation and New Zealand's special Kotahitanga ODI jersey.
What is the status of the India vs New Zealand tour in 2026?
India won the five-match T20I series 3-2. The five-match ODI series opened at Eden Park on 4 November, and two Test matches in Wellington and Christchurch are scheduled to follow the white-ball leg.
What is Eden Park's significance in New Zealand sport?
Eden Park in Auckland is one of New Zealand's most iconic sporting venues, primarily associated with rugby. It is the base of the All Blacks' remarkable 54-match unbeaten home run, which began in 1994, and hosted matches during both the 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cups.
