Photo Credit: Twitter Profile Photo of @chrisluxonmp, Wikipedia CC BY 3.0
During New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon‘s ongoing visit to India, he shared a memorable moment with cricket fans by participating in a game of ‘gully cricket’ on the streets of New Delhi. Luxon was joined by local children, as well as cricketing legends Kapil Dev, the 1983 World Cup-winning captain, and Ross Taylor, the former New Zealand cricketer.
Posting on social media, Luxon expressed his excitement for the experience, writing, “Working hard in India to hit it out of the park for Kiwis,” alongside a reel featuring Kiwi spinner Ajaz Patel, who hails from Mumbai. The video also showcased Luxon’s interactions with Taylor, who is accompanying him on this diplomatic trip focused on strengthening trade relations between New Zealand and India.
In the video, Luxon could be seen playing cricket with the legendary Kapil Dev and some young kids. He humorously remarked, “This is pretty unbelievable, actually. I’m playing cricket with Kapil Dev, which is pretty special. In the streets of New Delhi, with some amazing young kids who are on a programme about really bringing cricket to their lives.” Luxon added, “We’ve got Ajaz Patel and Ross Taylor who are playing against Kapil Dev and myself, which I’m not sure is a fair fight, but we’re going to give it a go.”
The video also featured a lighthearted moment when Luxon caught Ajaz Patel out. Patel, surprised by the catch, jokingly commented, “I thought I’d just glance it down the leg-side but the PM’s standing there, and he’s just pouched it, unbelievable.” Taylor also praised Luxon’s catch, calling it impressive. Clips from the video showed the international stars, including Luxon, taking turns to bat and bowl, with Taylor batting and standing in the slips, while Dev posed for photos with young fans.
Earlier in the trip, Luxon had shared some playful banter with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about their cricketing rivalry. “I really appreciate that PM Modi didn’t bring up New Zealand’s Champions Trophy loss to India, and I didn’t mention our Test victories in India. Let’s keep it that way and avoid a diplomatic incident,” Luxon said, receiving a warm smile from Modi and laughter from Ross Taylor, who was present at the exchange.
This lighthearted cricket moment captured the spirit of camaraderie between the two cricket-loving nations, showcasing not only the sport’s power to unite but also the personal connections forged through it.
Name of Author: Cricexec Staff
