Australian Deputy PM Calls India The 'Home Of Cricket'

Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles expressed his joy at being invited to India to witness the ICC Cricket World Cup final, stating that it was a privilege for him to attend the game.

Marles, along with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, watched the thrilling final between India and Australia at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.

Reflecting on the experience during the second India-Australia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue in Delhi on Monday, Marles commended India for hosting an exceptional tournament over the past six weeks, showcasing cricket to the world.

He went on to declare that, in a contemporary context, India has become the true "home of cricket".

Marles acknowledged Australia's victory in the sixth Cricket World Cup at Narendra Modi Stadium, where they defeated the home team India in a nail-biting match.

He stated, "and I think for those of us who love cricket, the pilgrimage that we all want to make now is to this country. And it was just the fulfilment of a lifelong dream for me to be able to actually watch cricket being played here, in India, and the shared love of this sport by both our countries, I think embodies, the state of our relationship."

Earlier on Monday, Marles, along with Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, visited the National War Memorial in Delhi and laid a wreath.

The Australian leaders are co-chairing the India-Australia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue with their Indian counterparts, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.

The second India-Australia 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue, a crucial aspect of the bilateral relationship, is addressing a wide range of strategic, defence, and security issues.

It provides an opportunity for both nations to collaborate and shape the kind of region they envision.