New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon embraced India’s cricketing spirit during his visit to New Delhi, showcasing his batting skills in a lively gully cricket match. Accompanied by Indian legend Kapil Dev, Luxon joined local children in a friendly game on the streets, creating a memorable spectacle for onlookers. The event also featured former New Zealand batter Ross Taylor and left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel, making it a star-studded affair for young cricket enthusiasts.
PM Luxon, an avid cricket fan, wasted no time in displaying his stroke play. The 54-year-old leader charged down the pitch, attempting some aggressive shots, and later demonstrated his fielding prowess with a sharp catch at leg-slip. His stunning grab dismissed Ajaz Patel, much to the surprise of the Kiwi spinner.
“This is unbelievable. I am playing cricket with Kapil Dev on the streets of New Delhi with some amazing kids,” Christopher Luxon shared in a video on Instagram, beaming with excitement. He revealed that he had partnered with Kapil Dev to take on the duo of Ross Taylor and Ajaz Patel.
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Ajaz Patel, reflecting on his dismissal, praised the New Zealand PM’s reflexes. “I thought I would glance it down the leg side, and I forgot that the PM was standing there. He pouched it. It was unbelievable. It was a good catch,” Ajaz admitted. Ross Taylor echoed his sentiments, applauding Luxon’s effort.
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The camaraderie between Luxon and Kapil Dev was evident as they ran hard between the wickets, fully immersing themselves in the street cricket experience. The match brought a sense of joy and nostalgia, proving once again that cricket is a universal language that transcends borders.
Just days earlier, PM Luxon engaged in light-hearted cricket banter with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their meeting in Delhi. Acknowledging the fierce yet friendly cricketing rivalry between the two nations, Luxon jokingly remarked that he had avoided discussing cricket to prevent a “diplomatic incident.”
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“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,” Christopher Luxon quipped, drawing laughter from the audience.
His remarks were a nod to India’s triumph over New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final on March 9 in Dubai—a victory that served as sweet redemption after India’s 3-0 Test series loss at home to the Black Caps.
