Diplomacy in cricketing times: Motera Thursday with Modi and Albania

The mood was festive, Ravi Shastri’s booming baritone oozing excitement and aura in equal measure as the crowd of around 40,000 got a taste of cricket diplomacy with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese enjoying much of the intense opening session. in the last test.

India will look to secure a 3-1 series win and a place in the World Cup finals, although the Australians will look to dent the home side’s pride by restoring parity. But it’s on the field.

Albanese and Modi made a tour of honor across the country to celebrate 75 years of friendship between India and Australia.

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The only dampener was the tight multi-layered security arrangement due to the presence of two heads of state. That’s why the gigantic stadium was not even half full when Modi and Albanese toured the country in a cricket-themed cart. However, they still received warm applause from those present.

BCCI President Roger Binny presented the Albanian with his portrait, while Secretary Jay Shah presented one to the Indian Prime Minister.

The two leaders then inaugurated the newly designed Hall of Fame room, where cricket and nostalgia are essentially absorbed into each other.

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There couldn’t have been a better person than former head coach Shastri to lend his services during their brief but engrossing meeting in cricketing history.

The two captains – Rohit Sharma and Steve Smith – also had their moment under the sun. They walked onto the field with their prime ministers and introduced them to the other players.

Albanese gave a few more seconds to Australia tour’s top performer Nathan Lyon as Modi greeted all the Indian players with a firm handshake.

Singing the national anthem alongside the Prime Minister of India is a story that Rohit would like to tell his grandchildren one day.

India took a 2-1 lead in the decisive fourth Test of the series.