The Indian cricket team, led by Rohit Sharma, met Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra ahead of their clash against the Australia PM’s XI at Manuka Oval. The customary meeting took place in the Australian Parliament, where both teams interacted with Albanese.
PM Albanese shared photos from the event on his official social media handle and expressed his support for the Australian side. “Big challenge ahead for the PM’s XI at Manuka Oval this week against an amazing Indian side. But as I said to PM Narendra Modi, I’m backing the Aussies to get the job done,” he wrote.
During the meet-and-greet, Albanese engaged in fun banter with the Indian players. He praised Jasprit Bumrah, calling his bowling style “unique,” and commended his efforts on the field. Addressing Virat Kohli, Albanese joked about India’s dominance in Perth, quipping, “Good time in Perth, as if we weren’t suffering enough at that point.” Kohli responded with a smile, saying, “Always gotta add some spice to it,” leading to a light-hearted moment where Albanese connected ‘spice’ with Indian players.
The interaction followed India’s emphatic 295-run win in the first Test in Perth. The team arrived in Canberra early on November 28 to prepare for the pink-ball Test against the Australia PM’s XI, a two-day match that will serve as a warm-up for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy’s second Test, starting December 6 at Adelaide Oval.
India’s victory in the first Test was powered by standout performances from Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah. Kohli smashed his 30th Test century and seventh ton on Australian soil, while Bumrah, serving as the stand-in captain, delivered a stellar eight-wicket haul to secure the Player of the Match award.
This pink-ball match is expected to fine-tune India’s preparations for the highly anticipated day-night Test as they aim to dominate the series against their fierce rivals.
Image Credits: India TV News
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