'A picture to remember' — Modi's gift to Steve Waugh goes viral

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the final day of his Australia tour. During the visit, Modi met former Australian captain Steve Waugh, highlighting the strong sporting and cultural ties between India and Australia. The meeting attracted significant attention from cricket fans across both countries.

One of the biggest highlights of the visit was PM Modi presenting Steve Waugh with a framed photograph taken nearly 20 years ago, when Modi was serving as the Chief Minister of Gujarat. The thoughtful gift reflected their long-standing connection and quickly became one of the most talked-about moments of the visit. Steve Waugh warmly received the photograph, making the occasion even more memorable.

Soon after the meeting, the video of the special moment went viral across social media platforms. Fans praised the gesture and filled the comments with messages like "A picture to remember" and "Two favourite icons in one frame." The heartwarming interaction has been widely shared online.

Watch the viral video here.

The story behind the photo: Modi and Waugh's first meeting, two decades apart

The photograph presented by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a special story behind it. It dates back nearly 20 years to Steve Waugh's charity work in India. At that time, Modi was the Chief Minister of Gujarat and met the former Australian captain during one of his visits. By gifting the old photograph, Modi recognised Waugh's long-standing contribution to helping underprivileged children in Kolkata through his charitable work.

Steve Waugh has supported charitable initiatives in Kolkata for many years and has built a strong connection with the people of India. His efforts outside cricket have earned him respect from fans across the country. The historic photograph served as a reminder of that long association and the friendship developed over the years.

The special presentation took place at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), one of the most famous cricket stadiums in the world. Officials from India and Australia were present during the meeting. The occasion showed how cricket continues to strengthen the relationship between the two countries, with sport playing an important role in bringing people together beyond the game.

Big Bash comes to India: The bigger announcement that came with the MCG visit

The visit to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) also brought a major announcement for cricket fans. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that the opening match of the 2026-27 Big Bash League (BBL) season will be played at Chennai's M. A. Chidambaram Stadium.

It will be the first official BBL match to be held outside Australia. Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the decision, saying that hosting a sporting event in India guarantees huge reach and viewership. During the visit, both leaders also met Australian cricket legends Steve Waugh and Lisa Sthalekar and visited the Shane Warne Stand at the MCG.

The historic opening match will be played between the Melbourne Renegades and the Perth Scorchers on December 12, with the Renegades serving as the home team.

The game is scheduled after the fourth day of the first Test between Australia and New Zealand in Perth. Chennai was chosen as the host city because of its rich cricket history, strong support from the BCCI, and the city's passionate cricket fans.

The initiative has received support from both the Indian and Australian governments as part of efforts to strengthen sporting and diplomatic ties. Cricket Australia believes the match will help expand the BBL's global reach and could become the most-watched game in the tournament's history. Australian broadcasters and JioStar will provide live coverage, while Cricket Australia is also planning travel packages for fans travelling from Australia to witness the historic event.

'Emotional moment' — How fans and cricket fraternity reacted online

The meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Steve Waugh received a warm response from fans and the cricket fraternity. Soon after the video was shared online, it went viral across social media platforms. Many users described the moment as "emotional" and "a picture to remember," while others praised the respect shown to one of Australia's greatest cricketers. Here is how the netizens reacted:

Several former cricketers, fans, and public figures also appreciated the gesture. Many called it a perfect example of how cricket brings people together beyond national borders. The meeting and the historic 20-year-old photograph reminded fans of the strong friendship between India and Australia, making it one of the most talked-about moments of the day.