PM Modi Australia Visit Live: PM departs Melbourne for New Zealand, his last stop of 3-nation tour

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday departed Melbourne for Auckland, New Zealand, marking the final leg of his three-nation diplomatic tour after wrapping up his engagements in Australia with a visit to the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). PM Modi is visiting New Zealand at the invitation of Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.

The Prime Minister is expected to arrive in Auckland at around 1.35 pm IST. No official engagements are scheduled on Friday.

On Saturday, Modi will begin his programme with meetings at Government House in Auckland before attending a sports and business event at the Viaduct Business Centre. He will later address the Indian community before leaving for Delhi in the afternoon.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese on Friday posed for photographs at the Shane Warne Stand during their visit to the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), paying tribute to one of Australia's greatest cricketing legends as part of their joint tour of the historic stadium.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday announced his country's support for India's bid to host the 2036 Olympic Games, making the declaration while accompanying Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their visit to the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

"Australia will support India's 2036 Olympic bid," Albanese said, underscoring Canberra's backing for New Delhi's ambition to host the world's biggest sporting event. The announcement came as the two leaders highlighted expanding India-Australia cooperation in sports and unveiled a new roadmap to deepen collaboration across multiple disciplines.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said India is preparing to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and is also making efforts to bring the 2036 Olympic Games to the country, as he highlighted growing sports cooperation with Australia during his visit to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

"India is set to host the Commonwealth Games in 2030. We are also striving to host the Olympics in India in 2036. Brisbane will host the Olympics in 2032. Sports infrastructure will be developed on a mega scale to host these global events," he said.

The Prime Minister also welcomed the decision to stage a Big Bash League (BBL) match in Chennai, saying it reflected the expanding sporting partnership between the two countries.

"I am delighted that a Big Bash League match will be held in Chennai, India. For any sporting league, hosting an event in India guarantees extensive reach and viewership," he added.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese on Friday launched the India-Australia Sports Collaboration Roadmap during their visit to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), with the pm saying the initiative would deepen cooperation in sports far beyond cricket.

"It gives me great pleasure to launch the India-Australia Sports Collaboration Roadmap today alongside Prime Minister Albanese. Through this initiative, we will strengthen cooperation not only in cricket but across other sports as well," he said.

"We will move forward together in areas such as sports training, sports science and technology, strengthening our partnership both on and off the field."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said cricket has always been a natural bridge in his relationship with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese, recalling their earlier visit to the stadium in Ahmedabad as he addressed a gathering at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

"Whenever I have had the chance to meet my friend Prime Minister Albanese, cricket has served as a natural connecting point between us. We visited the stadium together in Ahmedabad, and being here today, I can truly feel the sporting spirit, especially with legends like Steve Waugh and Lisa Sthalekar present among us," he said during his visit to the MCG.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), sharing a photograph with him and highlighting the deep friendship between the two nations despite their fierce sporting rivalry.

In a post on X, Albanese wrote, "There's nothing in the world like the MCG. On this field the Australia-India competition might be fierce. But off the field, we've forged lasting friendships."

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday visited the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), where he said the venue evokes two emotions for every Indian, the excitement of an India-Australia cricket match and the recognition that cricket is much more than just a sport for both nations.

"Stepping into the MCG evokes two simultaneous emotions for any Indian. First, the thrill of an India-Australia match and second, the realisation that, in both our nations, cricket is not merely a sport but a shared passion," he said.

"Yet, today, there is no pressure of a 'last-over finish.' Instead, there is only the joy of the game, the warmth of our friendship, and the energy of future champions."

Glimpses from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, highlighting sports diplomacy and engagement with the vibrant Indian diaspora.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), regarded as the birthplace of Test cricket, along with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese ahead of his departure for New Zealand. Modi also toured the historic venue with Albanese and former Australian cricket captain Steve Waugh, walking around the world's second-largest cricket stadium.

From Melbourne, PM Modi is scheduled to depart for Auckland at 9.30 am IST and arrive at Auckland International Airport at 1.35 pm IST.

On Saturday, he will begin his official engagements in New Zealand with meetings at Government House in Auckland from 3 am to 5.30 am IST. He will then participate in a sports and business engagement at the Viaduct Business Centre from 5.30 am to 8.45 am IST, followed by an event with the Indian community from 1 pm to 2 pm IST.

He is scheduled to depart for New Delhi at 2.50 pm IST, with his arrival in the national capital expected at 6.40 am IST on Sunday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will wrap up the Australia leg of his three-nation tour on Friday with a visit to the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) before flying to Auckland for the final stop of his overseas visit at the invitation of New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Australia's Leader of the Opposition, Angus Taylor, during his official state visit to Melbourne on Wednesday. The meeting took place as part of Modi's three-nation tour, which includes visits to Indonesia, Australia and New Zealand.

India and Australia elevated their strategic partnership on Thursday by signing 18 landmark agreements spanning civil nuclear energy, defence, maritime security, critical minerals, cyber cooperation and trade, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged deeper collaboration to strengthen a free, peaceful and rules-based Indo-Pacific amid growing regional security concerns.