New Zealand Prime Minister Luxon plays 'gully' cricket in India

Dubai: Cricket diplomacy at its finest. New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon swapped business suits for cricket whites — well, almost — when he picked up a bat on the streets of New Delhi. With a wall of bricks as stumps and Ross Taylor standing at slip, Luxon immersed himself in India’s favourite pastime, bowling to local boys as officials watched from the sidelines.

“Nothing unites New Zealand and India more than our shared love of cricket,” Luxon posted on X. The gully cricket (street cricket) is held in partnership between New Zealand and Stairs, a New Delhi-headquartered not-for-profit organisation, which nurtures talented sportsmen at the bottom-of-the-pyramid so that they can use this ability as a mean of earning a living and pursue it as a career.

Luxon is in India for a five-day official visit that began on March 16, focusing on business and economic collaboration. He was the chief guest at the 10th edition of the Raisina Dialogue 2025, where he also delivered the keynote address.

As part of his visit, Luxon toured India Gate and shared a photo on X. He also visited the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple in Delhi on Tuesday, paying tribute to the contributions of the Hindu community in New Zealand.

“The Hindu community in New Zealand has made a large contribution to our country. Today in Delhi, I paid my respects at a place sacred to many Kiwi-Hindus — the BAPS Swaminarayan Akshardham Temple,” he wrote on X.

During his keynote address at the recently concluded Raisina Dialogue 2025, highlighted the long-standing relationship between Indians and New Zealanders.

“It is more than 200 years since Indians and New Zealanders began living side by side. Just as they were 200 years ago, ‘Kiwi-Indians’ today are fully integrated into our multicultural society,” he said.

While underscoring the significant presence of the Indian diaspora in New Zealand, he said that New Zealanders of Indian heritage comprise 11 per cent of the people living in Auckland, New Zealand’s biggest city.

For a leader focused on strengthening economic ties, Luxon’s casual cricket session highlighted another bridge between the two nations — sport. While trade deals and policies shape official relations, moments like these capture the spirit of connection, proving that sometimes, diplomacy is best played with a bat and ball.