Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma & Shubman Gill Presented With Special Jersery By Former New Zealand Rugby Star Keven Mealamu

Auckland, November 4: Ahead of the start of the ODI series, Indian cricket stars Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma were presented with a special memento by the New Zealand rugby legend Keven Mealamu here in Auckland on Wednesday. The former All Blacks captain presented personalised rugby jerseys to the three Indian cricketers as part of a memorable pre-match interaction.

Mealamu, who represented the New Zealand ‘All Blacks’ in 132 international matches, is one of the most distinguished players in the country’s history. He was also an integral member of the All Blacks squads that lifted the Rugby World Cup in 2011 and 2015.

During the presentation, Mealamu expressed his delight at meeting the Indian players and explained the significance of the gesture. In a video shared by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) on X (formerly Twitter), he described the Maori concept of ‘Mana’ as a way of sharing respect and positive energy.

The pre-match celebrations also featured a traditional Maori chant performed by cultural representatives as players from both teams made their way into the stadium.

The BCCI shared photographs of the meeting, describing it as a special occasion involving Gill, Kohli and Rohit and the celebrated New Zealand rugby figure.

Meanwhile, India have shifted their focus to the 50-over format after securing a 3-2 victory in the preceding five-match T20I series. Shreyas Iyer led the team in the shortest format, while Gill has taken charge for the ODI assignment.

The presence of Kohli and Rohit remained a major attraction for spectators, with large crowds gathering to catch a glimpse of the two experienced batters. Both players have retired from Test and T20I cricket and now represent India exclusively in the ODI format.

The opening encounter experienced a slight delay due to rain. The ODI series will be followed by a two-match Test contest, scheduled to begin on November 19.