PM Modi's cricket analogy on Melbourne turf as India seals uranium deal
It is no secret that cricket has been a vital soft power asset between India and Australia. Thus, it was apt for Prime Minister Narendra
It is no secret that cricket has been a vital soft power asset between India and Australia. Thus, it was apt for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to use a cricketing analogy to describe the strategic ties between the countries. With his Australian counterpart by his side, PM Modi said cricket had become the "unique diplomatic language" between India and Australia as the countries inked a crucial uranium deal. The fact that the location was Melbourne, where the Indian team has etched several historical triumphs, was not lost on PM Modi. "Today, when we are in the world's sporting capital of Melbourne, to not talk about sports would be like a cricket match not starting even after the toss," PM Modi said.
#WATCH | Melbourne, Australia | PM Modi says, "Today, when we are in the world's sporting capital of Melbourne, to not talk about sports would like a cricket match not starting even after the toss. Cricket is the unique diplomatic language for India-Australia relations. This is pic.twitter.com/HpvRwDY8z5— ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2026 Read Full Story "Cricket is the unique diplomatic language for India-Australia relations," he further said. The Prime Minister then used different formats of the game to explain the growing partnership. "Our meetings feel like a cricket match - the agenda has the focus of a One-Day match, decisions are as fast as T20, and our partnership is as long and deep as a Test match," PM Modi said, drawing applause from the audience.
He clearly seems to have bowled over the audience with some cricket diplomacy. INDIA, AUSTRALIA SIGN URANIUM DEAL The remarks came shortly after India and Australia signed a major uranium deal, with PM Modi hailing it as vital to help expand the country's nuclear energy sector. The increasingly contested Indo-Pacific region was also a major focus, with India and Australia adopting a joint declaration on defence and security that will significantly help deepen military engagement. "We undertake to consult on defence-related developments in the Indo-Pacific that affect our shared interests," Albanese said.
Modi, on his part, said the cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region would help to bring "peace, stability, freedom of navigation and a rules-based order in the entire region". Ends
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