Updated 1 June 2026 at 19:11 IST
Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles highlighted the strong relationship between India and Australia, noting that cricket legend Virat Kohli is “immensely popular” and regarded as a major figure in Australia. Virat Kohli celebrating with IPL 2026 trophy | Image:
AP Australian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles on Monday said that Indian cricket icon Virat Kohli is “a huge name in Australia,” while praising the strong ties between the two nations.
Marles also expressed his admiration for Indian cricket legend Kapil Dev and highlighted the strong relationship between India and Australia during his participation in the event ‘Manobal’.
“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,” Marles said.
Speaking further on cricketing icons, he added, “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. Everyone in this room is easily the most well-known person in Australia today. We have shared passions for things like cricket, but we also have shared challenges in the way in which we are going about leading the modern world.”
Earlier, Australian Deputy PM Marles also highlighted the strong sporting and cultural ties between Australia and India, pointing to Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) Ind
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