New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese took a lap of honour at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad's Motera on a golf car on Thursday after they arrived to watch the first day of the fourth Test match between Australia and India.
They took a round of the massive sports arena on a golf car before the start of the fourth Test match between India and Australia.
The Prime Ministers handed over Test caps to their respective team captains Rohit Sharma and Steve Smith.
The round of the playing turf on a golf car by the two dignitaries was applauded by the thousands of spectators who had already taken their seats in the world's largest cricket stadium.
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Jay Shah, Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), welcomed PM Modi at the stadium who then welcomed Anthony Albanese shortly after.
Earlier in the day, a large number of spectators began arriving at the venue for the contest, the final Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Ahmedabad police have deployed more than 3,000 cops to guard the stadium and surrounding areas in the city, said Neeraj Badgujar, Additional Commissioner of Police, sector 1, as per news agency PTI.
“Our PM Narendra Modi and Australian PM will watch the Test match at Narendra Modi Stadium on March 9. Police have already completed all the security-related arrangements. We have deployed nearly 200 police officers and 3,000 policemen to secure the stadium and other spots,” PTI quoted Badgujar as saying.
Joint Commissioner of Police N N Chaudhary informed that spectators will arrive at the stadium in nearly 1,500 buses and special parking arrangements were made to accommodate these buses and other vehicles.
Modi and Albanese's visit is a part of the celebrations relating to the 75 years of Indo-Australia friendship.
Head coach Rahul Dravid had earlier said that the big crowd won't put pressure on the Indian players as many of them are used to playing in front of jam-packed stadiums, reported PTI.