Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) along with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the last day of his Australian tour, where he highlighted the strong sporting ties between the two countries. During the visit, Modi presented former Australian captain Steve Waugh with a framed photograph from almost 20 years ago, taken when Modi was Gujarat Chief Minister and met the cricket legend. He also expressed the joy of seeing young talents in action at the stadium.Modi said that India and Australia have a great opportunity to collaborate in sports as both countries prepare to host major international events. In a post on X, he said, “As our countries prepare to host major global sporting events in the coming years, there is great potential to deepen cooperation in sports, youth engagement, infrastructure and talent development.”The two leaders also unveiled a Roadmap of Sport Cooperation, which aims to expand collaboration in sports science, technology, talent development, infrastructure, trade and tourism. Modi reiterated India’s ambition to host the 2036 Olympics after the 2030 Commonwealth Games.Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that the opening match of the 2026-27 Big Bash League season will be played at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, making it the first BBL match to be played outside Australia. Welcoming the move, Modi said, “For any sporting league, hosting an event in India guarantees wide reach and viewership.”Albanese also praised the strong cricket competition between India and Australia, recalling the record attendance of the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He acknowledged cricket legends Steve Waugh and Lisa Sthalekar, saying, “It is a great honor to be here with two legends of Australian cricket who are both admired and respected in India as well. Lisa Sthalekar and Steve Waugh.” The leaders also visited the Shane Warne Stand at the MCG.