NEW DELHI: Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles used Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL 2026 title win as an example of the strong relationship between India and Australia. Speaking a day after RCB defeated Gujarat Titans to win their second consecutive IPL trophy, Marles pointed out how Indian star Virat Kohli and Australian players Josh Hazlewood and Tim David all played important roles in the victory.Marles said the trio’s contribution reflected how the two countries increasingly work together across different fields. “When I was here last year, it was the morning after the final of the Indian Premier League, as it is, of course, this morning. Last night, as we saw a year ago, we saw RCB triumph. But I like the fact that Virat Kohli was 75 not out and was man of the match, but alongside him were Josh Hazlewood and Tim David. So there was very much an Australian-Indian bilateral theme at play last night as RCB won the IPL. And that is emblematic, I think, of the relationship between our two countries,” he said, as quoted by news agency ANI.Speaking further at the “Manobal” community event in New Delhi, Marles highlighted Kohli’s immense popularity in Australia and recalled growing up watching Indian cricket legends. “Virat Kohli is a huge name in Australia right now, but as I grew up, the very first Indian cricket captain I remember was Bishan Bedi; they were the great names of that era,” he added.He added that cricket remains a powerful bond between the two nations and helps strengthen wider ties.Marles also shared his excitement about meeting 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev at the event. Calling it a memorable experience, he said, “It is quite a thrill for me to be standing next to the great Kapil Dev… The relationship between Australia and India is at a high point… In so many ways, the shared passion that we have for life is embodied in our passion for cricket.”
