100 years on: How a hockey tour of New Zealand forged a bond between two nations

Prime Ministers Narendra Modi and Christopher Luxon have paid tribute to the landmark 1926 tour of New Zealand by the Indian Army hockey team, which introduced the world to the genius of Major Dhyan Chand. The centenary celebrations, marked during Modi's visit to Auckland, highlight a shared sporting heritage that continues to inspire bilateral ties.

“A hundred years ago, our hockey team created history by coming here,” Modi said. “It inspires our sporting partnership even today.” Luxon echoed the sentiment, recalling the tour's role in cementing friendship between the two countries.

The tour, which began in April 1926, saw a 17-member Indian Army contingent sail from Calcutta to New Zealand. Led by Captain David Tennant Cowan, the squad included four British officers, one Sikh officer, and 12 Indian soldiers. Among them was a young Sepoy Dhyan Chand, whose extraordinary stickwork left New Zealanders spellbound.

In an unofficial warm-up match against the New Zealand Navy on May 13, 1926, India won 11–1, with Dhyan Chand scoring four goals. The New Zealand Herald described him as “a slightly-built youth, who played a remarkable game at centre-forward. His stick work and control of the ball were well-nigh perfect.”

The team's first official international match took place on June 26, 1926, at Lancaster Park in Christchurch, before nearly 14,000 spectators. Wearing red shirts, white shorts, and red socks, India defeated New Zealand, marking the beginning of India's international hockey journey.

Dhyan Chand's son, Ashok Kumar, a former hockey player himself, expressed pride that the tour still resonates. “I feel proud that a team of Armymen, and a humble soldier in that team, did something so remarkable that even after 100 years, the Prime Ministers are talking about it,” he said.

Hockey India secretary-general Bhola Nath Singh called the moment “a matter of immense pride.” As part of the centenary celebrations, India's cricket team will tour New Zealand in November, and the men's football team will play two friendlies—on November 12 in Auckland and November 15 in Christchurch.

The tour not only launched India's international hockey presence but also laid the foundation for a lasting friendship between India and New Zealand.