Indian Cricket Team Meets Rugby Legend Keven Mealamu Ahead of ODI Series
A Memorable Encounter in Auckland
On November 4, the Indian cricket team enjoyed a unique cross-sport experience with renowned New Zealand rugby player Keven Mealamu in Auckland, coinciding with the first ODI against the Blackcaps.
Captain Shubman Gill, along with prominent players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, were presented with custom rugby jerseys by Mealamu during this special occasion.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) shared the moment on social media, stating, "A special moment before the start of play Captain @ShubmanGill, @imVkohli and @ImRo45 meet with the legendary Keven Mealamu, a titan of New Zealand rugby and are presented with personalised rugby jerseys."
Keven Mealamu, born on March 20, 1979, is celebrated as one of the greatest hookers in All Blacks history and remains a beloved figure in New Zealand sports. His warm interaction with the Indian players showcased the camaraderie and strong connections between various sports communities.
In the match, Indian captain Shubman Gill won the toss and chose to chase against New Zealand in the first of five ODIs at Eden Park.
With the focus on the upcoming 2027 ODI World Cup, India commenced their series against New Zealand, marking the return of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to the ODI format.
India aims to improve their recent ODI performance in New Zealand, where their last win was in February 2019. They have faced two ODI series losses since then, with one series resulting in a 3-0 defeat and another ending 1-0, alongside two washed-out matches.
Since their Champions Trophy victory in early 2025, India has struggled for consistency in ODIs, winning three and losing three of their last six series, with defeats against Australia, New Zealand, and England. In their last ODI series encounter, New Zealand triumphed 2-1.
Teams:
New Zealand (Playing XI): Tim Seifert, Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Latham(w), Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner(c), Nathan Smith, Kyle Jamieson, Jacob Duffy, Blair Tickner.
India (Playing XI): Shubman Gill(c), Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Axar Patel, KL Rahul(w), Naman Dhir, Anshul Kamboj, Auqib Nabi, Gurnoor Brar, Arshdeep Singh.