PM Modi Meets Steve Waugh at MCG, Gifts Him 20-Year-Old Photo

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday met Australian cricket legend Steve Waugh and presented a 20-year-old photo when he had met him when he was the Chief Minister of Gujarat.

The Indian PM visited visited the Melbourne Cricket Ground and signed the jerseys of young cricketers. He was accompanied by his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese.

"Stepping into the MCG evokes two simultaneous emotions for any Indian. First, the thrill of an India-Australia match and second, the realisation that, in both our nations, cricket is not merely a sport but a shared passion. Yet, today, there is no pressure of a 'last-over finish.' Instead, there is only the joy of the game, the warmth of our friendship, and the energy of future champions," PM Modi said.

Earlier, Australian PM Anthony Albanese announced that the BBL 2026-27 season will begin in India and the Chepauk in Chennai will be hosting the inaugural match. This is for the first time in the history of the tournament where a match is being played outside the country.

"I am happy that a Big Bash league match will be organised in India, in Chennai. Any sporting league that conducts games in India is guaranteed to reach a large base and fetch big viewership," Prime Minister Narendra Modi said.

The announcement came on the sidelines of a broader bilateral push to deepen sporting ties between the two countries. The two leaders jointly released the India-Australia Sports Collaboration Roadmap, which, according to a statement from India's Ministry of External Affairs, will focus on four key pillars: training and capacity building, sports science and technology, sports industry collaboration, and investment opportunities.