The BLACKCAPS T20I squad will descend on Christchurch’s Victoria Square to launch the Hero VIDA T20I series, Powered by AI+ Nova Smartphone next Wednesday 21 October at 4pm on the eve of the first match of the tour.
Attendees will be given the opportunity to meet the team and engage in a signing session, along with food trucks, entertainment, giveaways, and the new ANZ Bat Zone augmented reality cricket simulator on site throughout the afternoon.
In partnership with Ōtautahi Christchurch, ANZ, and Sport NZ, the launch is a free, family-friendly event open to the public to celebrate the sporting connection between India and New Zealand ahead of the largest cricket tour ever hosted in the country’s history.
An expected 170,000 fans will flock to cricket grounds all over New Zealand over the next month and a half, with greater investment into in-match fan experience one of the key focuses for New Zealand Cricket.
New Zealand Cricket Head of Marketing Tim Ellis said he’s expecting a large fan presence at Victoria Square next week.
“The welcome at Victoria Square is a rare opportunity for our fans to get up close and personal with the entire BLACKCAPS team and wish them well for what is going to be an incredible tour
“Everything is pointing to this tour being a watershed moment for the game of cricket in this country and we want to ensure our public are able to experience the energy and excitement first-hand, either at the games or at our community activations such as the launch event."
“This tour has obviously been the focal point of our efforts for months now,” Ellis said.
“To now be only seven days away from the launch event in Ōtautahi Christchurch, we just can’t wait for the cricket to start and for New Zealanders to enjoy what will be an incredible spectacle.”
“It’s even more special for the tour to coincide with 100 years of sporting unity between New Zealand and India, so bring on the cricket!”
A limited edition BLACKCAPS Kotahitanga ODI jersey has been produced for the tour, with local Māori designer Ben Thomason and New Zealand-Indian designers Shiv Narandas (Gujarat) and Jai Pancha (Gujarat) collaborating on a design to reflect both country’s cultures.
The first match of the 12-match series starts at 8pm on Thursday 22 October at Hagley Oval, with another sellout expected to be confirmed in the coming days.
Sport NZ have confirmed a programme of nine sports to celebrate '100 Years of Unity through Sport'. Check out the full schedule of sports across five cities, including the BLACKCAPS v India series, at the link below.