Often referred to as a religion in India, cricket is much more than just a game. And for the two teams fighting it out in this summer’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy series, the emotional drama of the game is being shared by both nations, Australia and India. But cricket’s influence stretches far beyond the boundary lines. Cricket has created a level playing field for closer ties between two countries who once sat on opposite sides of the Cold War blocs.

The diplomatic, social and economic impact of two great teams playing this Test series in Australia is unfathomable. The 2024 India-Australia Test now holds the record for attendance figures at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with 373,691 fans over the five-day Boxing Day match, making it the largest crowd for any Test played in Australia. This is a testament to the incredible capacity of the iconic MCG but is also symbolic, not just of the sport’s popularity but of a growing cultural connection between the two countries.