External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar Names His Favorite New Zealand Cricketer

S. Jaishankar said that the cooperation between India and New Zealand on the cricket field is a shining example for other countries.

Jaishankar, who is on his first official visit to New Zealand as External Affairs Minister, lauded the bilateral cricket ties between India and New Zealand. ( Image Source :@DrSJaishankar / Twitter )

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Sunday inaugurated the new Indian High Commission Chancery in New Zealand's capital, Wellington, and said coordinating each other's capabilities is a more prudent way to further deepen the vital ties between India and New Zealand.

Jaishankar, who is on his first official visit to New Zealand as External Affairs Minister, also lauded the bilateral cricket ties between India and New Zealand, saying India will always be grateful to John Wright and Stephen Fleming, who hailed from New Zealand, for their contribution to the development of the sport in the country.

Jaishankar said that the cooperation between the two countries on the cricket field is a shining example for other countries.

"When we think of New Zealand there is so much which comes to our mind and I am keeping myself in check. I would say a fine example of our cooperation is actually cricket itself," External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was quoted as saying by ANI.

"So, nobody is serious in India about cricket but they will never forget John Wright or anybody who watches IPL and my origins are in Chennai would forget Stephen Fleming and the most I would say the New Zealander best known to Indians would be Williamson. We like him most of the time except when he plays against us. My personal favourite New Zealand cricketer is Ross Taylor but that is a different matter, " said S Jaishankar.

Wright was team India's first foreign coach and coached the Indian cricket team from 2000 to 2005. Under his guidance, the Indian team reached the final of the 2003 ODI World Cup. Wright was also the head coach of Mumbai Indians in IPL in 2013 and under his mentorship the IPL franchise became IPL champions for the first time. Later, he worked with MI for seven more years.

Stephen Fleming, the most successful coach in IPL history, played for Chennai Super Kings in 2008 after his retirement from international cricket. After this, he remained the coach and player of CSK from 2009. In the first six years under Fleming, CSK won two IPL titles and were runners-up twice. After a two-year suspension, he made CSK the IPL champions again in 2018 and 2021.