New Delhi: Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles has pointed to Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s IPL 2026 title success as a vivid example of the growing closeness between India and Australia. Speaking a day after RCB beat Gujarat Titans to seal their second straight IPL trophy, Marles highlighted the roles played by Indian batting star Virat Kohli alongside Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood and all-rounder Tim David in the team’s triumph. For Marles, the win was more than just a cricket story—it reflected the wider ways the two countries are increasingly cooperating across different areas.
Marles made the remarks as quoted by ANI, describing how the timing of the celebrations echoed last year’s final. He said that when he was in India the previous year, it was the morning after the IPL final, and now—again—it was the day following another RCB victory. He particularly drew attention to Kohli’s impact in the decisive moment, noting that Kohli finished on 75 not out and was named player of the match, while Hazlewood and David formed part of the winning mix. “So there was very much an Australian-Indian bilateral theme at play last night as RCB won the IPL,” Marles said, adding that the result, in his view, was emblematic of the relationship between the two countries.
At the “Manobal” community event in New Delhi, Marles also spoke about Kohli’s immense popularity in Australia and reflected on his own childhood memories of Indian cricket. He said that while Kohli is a major name in Australia today, the first Indian captain he personally remembers from his early days was Bishan Bedi, recalling the influence of that earlier generation of legends on fans across the world.
Continuing his theme, Marles stressed that cricket remains a powerful link between India and Australia and plays a part in reinforcing broader ties beyond the boundary. He also shared his enthusiasm about getting the chance to meet Kapil Dev—captain of India’s 1983 World Cup-winning side—during the event. Describing the moment as special, Marles said it was “quite a thrill” to stand next to Kapil Dev, and added that the relationship between Australia and India is at a high point, concluding that their shared passion for life is mirrored in their shared love for cricket.
