Kevin Mealamu Presents Personalized All Blacks Jerseys to Indian Cricket Stars

Auckland, November 4 (Daily Kiran) : Kevin Mealamu, the former New Zealand rugby star, presented personalized All Blacks jerseys to Indian cricket players Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma in Auckland on November 4, 2026. This special event took place ahead of the first ODI against New Zealand at Eden Park.

During a memorable gathering, the three cricketers were welcomed into the All Blacks family. Mealamu gifted them black jerseys featuring their cricket numbers: Gill received number 77, Kohli number 18, and Sharma number 45.

Mealamu is one of New Zealand rugby’s most renowned figures, having played 132 Tests for the All Blacks. He was part of the teams that won the Rugby World Cup in 2011 and 2015. This meeting provided a unique sporting crossover opportunity just before the five-match ODI series commenced at the iconic Auckland venue.

Eden Park holds a significant place in New Zealand’s sporting history, known as one of the country’s premier rugby venues. It is associated with the All Blacks’ remarkable 54-match home winning streak, which began in 1994.

The Indian cricket team shared highlights of this meeting on social media, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) referring to it as a special moment connecting three Indian stars with a rugby legend from New Zealand.

This encounter took place during the celebration of a century of sporting relations between India and New Zealand, which began in 1926 when the Indian Army hockey team toured New Zealand in the presence of legendary player Dhyan Chand.

The ongoing cricket tour, which includes all formats, marks the centenary of sports between the two nations. India has already clinched the five-match T20 series 3-2.

To commemorate shared sports and cultural heritage, the host team is also wearing a special limited-edition Kotahitanga ODI jersey. Following the ODI series, two Test matches will be held in Wellington and Christchurch.