Auckland, New Zealand: In a symbolic gesture bridging two sporting giants, India's cricketing stalwarts Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma received personalized All Blacks rugby jerseys from New Zealand legend Keven Mealamu. This special interaction took place at Auckland's iconic Eden Park, just before India's opening ODI against New Zealand.

Mealamu, a revered figure in New Zealand rugby with 132 Test caps and two Rugby World Cup titles (2011, 2015), presented the cricketers with jerseys emblazoned with their respective playing numbers: Gill received 77, Kohli 18, and Rohit 45. This moment celebrated not just individual achievements but also the enduring sporting ties between India and New Zealand.

The meeting gains added significance as it coincides with the centenary celebrations of sporting exchanges between the two nations, a relationship that began in 1926 with an Indian Army hockey team's historic tour. The ongoing all-format cricket tour, which includes five T20Is and five ODIs, is part of these celebrations.

Eden Park, a venue steeped in New Zealand's rugby history and famous for the All Blacks' 54-match unbeaten home run, provided a fitting backdrop for this cross-sport exchange. The hosts are also wearing a special limited-edition 'Kotahitanga' ODI jersey, further highlighting the shared cultural and sporting heritage.

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