PM Modi Uses Cricket to Describe Growing India-Australia Partnership

Melbourne, July 2026 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday drew parallels between cricket and diplomacy to highlight the deepening relationship between India and Australia, saying the two nations share a partnership that is dynamic, enduring and built on mutual trust. Speaking after holding wide-ranging talks with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Melbourne, Modi said bilateral ties have entered a new phase marked by stronger economic, strategic and people-to-people cooperation.

Using cricket analogies, the Prime Minister said the nature of India-Australia engagement reflects the spirit of the sport that both nations passionately follow.

“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, and the partnership is as long-lasting and deep as a Test match,” PM Modi wrote in a post on X.

The two leaders held comprehensive discussions during the third Australia-India Annual Leaders’ Summit, where they reviewed progress made under the India-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership launched in 2022 and agreed to further strengthen cooperation across a wide range of sectors.

Modi said both countries had decided to accelerate negotiations on the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA), which is expected to significantly boost bilateral trade, investment and economic collaboration.

“Over the past few years, our partnership has expanded remarkably. We have now decided to speed up work on the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement, which will be balanced, ambitious and mutually beneficial for both countries,” the Prime Minister said.

The discussions focused on expanding trade and investment opportunities while exploring new avenues for collaboration in emerging sectors. Modi described the outcomes of the summit as “unparalleled”, highlighting progress in renewable energy, climate action, nuclear energy, critical minerals, advanced technology, education and innovation.

A major outcome of the summit was the issuance of a Joint Declaration on Defence and Security Cooperation, aimed at strengthening strategic coordination between the two Indo-Pacific partners. Modi said both countries also agreed to deepen cooperation in shipbuilding, ship repair and maritime maintenance, reflecting their shared commitment to regional security and resilient supply chains.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Modi received a ceremonial welcome at Government House Victoria, where he was accorded a Guard of Honour. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese personally welcomed the Indian leader, underscoring the warmth of bilateral relations.

The two leaders also participated in the India-Australia CEO Forum, engaging with leading business executives from both countries. Addressing the gathering, Modi encouraged Australian businesses to invest in India’s rapidly growing economy, particularly in sectors such as manufacturing, clean energy, artificial intelligence, digital technology and infrastructure.

Senior officials, including Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and members of both delegations, attended the summit. The visit reaffirmed the commitment of India and Australia to further strengthen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and expand cooperation in strategic, economic and technological domains while promoting a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.