India, New Zealand exchange traditional greetings ahead of T20 series

The Indian cricket team was accorded a traditional Maori welcome ahead of the T20 International series against New Zealand, marking a ceremonial start to the bilateral engagement. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) documented the cultural exchange through photographs shared on its official channels.

The greeting, performed in the traditional Maori style, saw members of the Indian squad participate in the customary welcome ritual. Among those featured in the images were batter Shreyas Iyer and New Zealand allrounder Mitchell Santner, who engaged in the ceremonial gestures as part of the pre-series protocol.

Such cultural welcomes have become standard practice for international cricket tours, serving as a gesture of respect between visiting and host nations. The exchange reflects the growing emphasis on cultural acknowledgment in international sports, particularly in cricket tours to New Zealand, where Maori traditions hold significant importance.

The T20 series between India and New Zealand represents another chapter in the two nations' long-standing cricket rivalry. The ceremonial beginning sets the tone for what is expected to be a competitive engagement between the two teams across the multi-match series.