PM Modi turns to cricket to illustrate strength of India, Australia ties

Melbourne, Jul 9 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday invoked India and Australia's shared passion for cricket to highlight the rapidly expanding strategic ties between the two nations. Flanked by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Modi contrasted the different formats of cricket to map out the pace and depth of the India-Australia bilateral engagements. "As we are here in Melbourne -- the sports capital of the world -- not talking about sports would be like not starting a cricket match after the toss," PM Modi remarked. "Cricket is the diplomatic language of India-Australia relations. That is why our meetings, too, resemble cricket: The agenda -- focused like a one-day match," he said. "Decisions -- swift like a T20 game, And the partnership—long and deep, like a Test match," he said. Modi made the remarks after holding summit talks with Albanese. "In the coming years, both countries will host major sporting events such as the Olympic and Commonwealth Games. This will not only enhance our sports cooperation but also create numerous opportunities for investment in sports infrastructure," the prime minister said. Following the Modi-Albanese summit, the two sides sealed a raft of landmark pacts spanning civil nuclear energy, maritime security and critical minerals sectors to significantly expand the relations. The prime minister landed in Australia on Wednesday from Indonesia in the second leg of his three-nation tour that is aimed at boosting trade, energy and defence ties against the backdrop of an increasingly fractured geopolitical environment. PTI MPB GSP GSP