PM Modi Presents Steve Waugh Two-Decade-Old Photograph From Their First Melbourne Meeting

10 July : Prime Minister Narendra Modi presented former Australian captain Steve Waugh with a nearly two-decade-old photograph of their first meeting during his visit to the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on Friday.

The photograph dated back to Modi’s tenure as the Chief Minister of Gujarat and highlighted the enduring friendship between the two nations.

PM Modi was accompanied by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan. Together, they marked a landmark moment for international cricket.

The leaders announced that the Melbourne Renegades would play the Perth Scorchers at Chennai’s M A Chidambaram Stadium on December 12, opening the 2026-27 Big Bash League season.

The fixture will become the first-ever BBL match staged outside Australia. It will take place after the fourth day’s play of the opening Australia-New Zealand Test in Perth.

India and Australia jointly support the initiative, with partial funding from the Centre of Australia-India Relations.

The BCCI and Australian Consul-General Silai Zaki supported Chennai as the venue. They chose the city for its rich cricket heritage and the immense popularity of the Chennai Super Kings.

The BBL will become the first overseas domestic cricket competition to stage an official match in India.

Cricket Australia believes the encounter could become the most-watched game in Australian domestic sporting history.

Australian broadcasters will send commentary teams to Chennai, while JioStar will telecast the match across India.

Cricket Australia also expects a packed 38,000-capacity stadium and plans travel packages for Australian supporters.

During the MCG visit, PM Modi met children playing exhibition matches in cricket, kabaddi and Australian rules football. He interacted with Steve Waugh and former Australian women’s cricketer Lisa Sthalekar.

In his X statement, PM Modi congratulated Australia on winning the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup.

He also said the coming decade offers exciting opportunities for sporting collaboration, with India hosting the 2030 Commonwealth Games and Australia staging the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.