India vs New Zealand 2019: Watch Indian Team Get Powhiri Welcome by Maori Tribe

India National Cricket Team received a grand Powhiri welcome by the Maori Tribe for their optional practice session at the Bay Oval. The tribe danced in their traditional way to give a unique welcome to the visitors. Meanwhile, India’s deputy Rohit Sharma was asked to pick a small stem of leave and carry it forward.

Other players like Khaleel Ahmed, Shubman Gill were spotted noting the dance with great interest. In fact, India’s head coach Ravi Shastri took to his Twitter account to share the photos of the team with the Maori tribe.

It was a grand welcome.

On the other hand, big players like Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni went on to miss the optional training session. In fact, we are all familiar with the Haka Dance of the New Zealand Rugby team which they do before the beginning of every match. New Zealand’s rugby team is one of the best teams in the world.

Meanwhile, India took a lead of 1-0 after winning the opening match by eight wickets. Mohammed Shami caused early damage when he took the wickets of both Kiwis openers, Colin Munro and Martin Guptill. Subsequently, Shami plumbed Mitchell Santner in front of the wickets. Thus, Shami took three wickets and he was awarded the Man of the match.

Kuldeep Yadav scalped four wickets and also took the big wicket of Blackcaps skipper Kane Williamson. On the other hand, India’s southpaw batsman Shikhar Dhawan scored an unbeaten knock of 75 runs to strike back into form.

Virat Kohli also played a vital knock of 45 runs and stitched a partnership of 91 runs with Dhawan to help the visitors get in close proximity to the target.

Ravi Shastri took to his account. The post read as, “Great to be welcomed and blessed by Māori pōwhiri from Ngai Tukairangi and Ngati Kuku, the manawhenua for the Bay Oval area ? @BayOvalOfficial #NZvIND”.

Great to be welcomed and blessed by Māori pōwhiri from Ngai Tukairangi and Ngati Kuku, the manawhenua for the Bay Oval area ? @BayOvalOfficial #NZvIND pic.twitter.com/g8ZbsMpkdI

— Ravi Shastri (@RaviShastriOfc) January 25, 2019

Here is the video of the grand welcome:

Grand welcome for the Indian team. https://t.co/54jO7q1SNx#NZvIND

— Gautam Chauhan? (@Gautamchauhan2) January 25, 2019