Virat Kohli (left) after RCB’s second IPL title (AP Photo)

New Delhi: Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles used Royal Challengers Bangalore’s IPL 2026 title win as an example of the strong ties between India and Australia. This was said a day after RCB defeated Gujarat Titans to register their second consecutive win IPL trophy, Marles told how the Indian star Virat Kohli and Australian players Josh Hazlewood And tim david Everyone played an important role in the victory.Marles said the trio’s contributions demonstrate how the two countries are increasingly working together in a variety of areas. “When I was here last year, it was the morning after the Indian Premier League final, as, of course, it is this morning. Last night, just like we saw a year ago, we saw RCB win. But I liked the fact that Virat Kohli became the man of the match for his unbeaten 75, but he was also accompanied by Josh Hazlewood and Tim David. So when RCB won the IPL last night, the game was largely an Australian-India bilateral affair. And I think it’s symbolic for the relations between our two countries,” he said, as quoted by news agency ANI.Speaking further at the “Morale” community event in New Delhi, Marles highlighted Kohli’s immense popularity in Australia and recalled growing up watching the Indian cricket legend. He said, “Virat Kohli is a big name in Australia at the moment, but as I grew up, the first person I remember was Indian cricket captain Bishan Bedi; he was a great name of that era.”He said cricket remains a strong bond between the two countries and helps strengthen broader ties.Marles also shared his excitement about meeting the 1983 World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev On the incident. Describing it as a memorable experience, he said, “It’s quite a thrill for me to be standing next to the great Kapil Dev… Relations between Australia and India are at a high point… In many ways, the shared passion we have for life is embodied in our passion for cricket.”