Melbourne: Being in Melbourne, Prime Minister Narendra Modi didn’t miss the chance to visit the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on the final day of his Australia tour.
Modi was accompanied by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, an avid cricket lover, along with Aussie cricket legends Steve Waugh and Lisa Sthalekar, highlighting the two nations’ deep sporting bond, especially through cricket.
The two PMs interacted with young talents, met Australia’s international mascot ‘Ruby the Roo’, and visited the Shane Warne Stand.
#WATCH | Melbourne, Australia | Prime Minister Narendra Modi signs the jerseys of young cricketers during his visit to the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
He was accompanied by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
(Source: ANI/DD) pic.twitter.com/8c9EBI3isq
— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2026
Addressing those present at the MCG, Modi said cricket has always been a natural bridge between him and Prime Minister Albanese.
“Whenever I have had the chance to meet my friend Prime Minister Albanese, cricket has served as a natural connecting point between us. We visited the stadium together in Ahmedabad, and being here today, I can truly feel the sporting spirit —nespecially with legends like Steve Waugh and Lisa Sthalekar present among us,” he said.
#WATCH | Melbourne, Australia | During his visit to Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Prime Minister Narendra Modi says, “Whenever I have had the chance to meet my friend Prime Minister Albanese, cricket has served as a natural connecting point between us. We visited the stadium… pic.twitter.com/N10ZulRE3d
— ANI (@ANI) July 10, 2026
India’s sporting ambitions
Outlining India’s sporting ambitions, PM Modi said the country is preparing to bid for the 2036 Olympic Games.
“India is set to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030. We are also striving to host the Olympics in India in 2036. Brisbane will host the Olympics in 2032. Sports infrastructure will be developed on a mega scale to host these global events,” the Indian PM said.
He also expressed delight that Australia’s popular T20 competition Big Bash League (BBL) will have its opening match of the 2026-27 season in Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium in December.
Modi also gifted Waugh a framed photo of the former Australian captain meeting the former when he was the Gujarat chief minister.
Albanese highlighted the historic India-Australia cricket rivalry and the record-breaking attendance during the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
“Just two years ago, Australian and Indian fans broke an attendance record that was 90 years old. Over five days, 370,000 people came through these gates to watch the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar series. That is the passion and the respect between our rivalry. It is a great honour to be joined here by two legends of Australian cricket who are both admired and revered in India too. Lisa Sthalekar and Steve Waugh,” Albanese said.
The two leaders unveiled the Roadmap on Sport Cooperation which looks to further strengthen sporting ties between the two nations, according to a media release.
The roadmap focuses on Australia’s expertise in hosting major sporting events and India’s growing ambitions in sport, while opening new avenues for trade, tourism, and investment. It outlines key areas of collaboration, including capacity building, sports science and technology research, as well as industry and investment.
At the end of his three-day visit to Australia, Modi flew to New Zealand where he was received at the Auckland airport by Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.
