India-Australia Ties: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (local time) invoked the spirit of cricket to underline a new momentum in India-Australia relations, saying both nations would shape the future together with “fast decisions, fearless strokes and match-winning partnerships”.
While addressing a joint press conference with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Melbourne, Modi said cricket has become the “diplomatic language” of India-Australia relations.
“Today, as we are in Melbourne, the sporting capital of the world, not talking about sports would be like winning the toss in a cricket match but never starting the game,” PM Modi said.
Melbourne, Australia: PM Narendra Modi says, “…Cricket is a diplomatic language of India-Australia
relations. That is why our meetings also feel like cricket. The agenda has the focus of a one-day match, decisions are as fast as a T20, and the partnership is as long and deep as… pic.twitter.com/Uzwf01xJiE
— IANS (@ians_india) July 9, 2026
Drawing parallels between diplomacy and cricket, the Prime Minister said, “Our agenda is as focused as a One Day International, our decisions are as swift as a T20 match, and our partnership is as enduring and deep as a Test match.”
Looking ahead at institutional sports management and commercial ventures, PM Modi highlighted that the two nations are slated to host major sporting events, a factor that will naturally yield expansive institutional and commercial synergy.
India-Australia meetings are much like cricket:
The agenda is as focused as a One-Day International.
The decisions are as fast as T20 cricket.
The partnership is as long-lasting and deep as a Test match. pic.twitter.com/ENW5w9KNXM
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 9, 2026
“In the coming years, both our countries will host major sporting events such as the Olympic Games and the Commonwealth Games. This will not only strengthen our sporting cooperation but also create numerous opportunities for investment in sports infrastructure,” PM Modi said.
Beyond sport, the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership across defence, security, trade and clean energy.
In a joint statement, India and Australia also strongly condemned the recent terror attacks in Pahalgam and Sydney’s Bondi Beach, reaffirming their commitment to combating terrorism, violent extremism and radicalisation. The two sides agreed to enhance intelligence-sharing and deepen cooperation against terror financing, cyber threats and emerging security challenges.
The summit also saw the announcement of key strategic agreements, including a landmark nuclear energy pact under which Australia will supply uranium to India for peaceful purposes, along with new initiatives on defence innovation and critical minerals cooperation.
PM Modi is in Australia as part of the second leg of his three-nation tour, with both leaders expressing confidence that the expanding partnership will continue to grow across strategic, economic and people-to-people ties.
iberations, PM Modi had announced that India and Australia had sealed a landmark agreement in the field of atomic cooperation, adding a vital strategic nuclear dimension to their rapidly accelerating partnership.
The Prime Minister’s ongoing visit is expected to further accelerate the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which serves as the foundational framework governing bilateral relations between the two countries.
PM Modi arrived in Melbourne on Wednesday for the crucial second leg of his three-nation visit, receiving a grand ceremonial welcome at the airport immediately after concluding a highly productive visit to Indonesia.
(With inputs from agencies)
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