S Jaishankar's gift to Australia Dy PM Richard Marles: Cricket bat signed by Virat Kohli

External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar met Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles in Canberra on Monday to talk about the growing defence and security cooperation between both countries.

What caught the eye of many was the gift Jaishankar took for Marles. It was a cricket bat signed by ace India batter Virat Kohli.

"A pleasure to host @DrSJaishankar here in Canberra. There are many things which bind us, including our love of cricket. Today, he surprised me with a signed bat from cricket legend @imVkohli," Marles wrote.


Kohli is currently with the rest of the Indian cricket team in the Australian city of Perth where they are training ahead of the 2022 T20 World Cup opener versus Pakistan.

Meanwhile, Jaishankar, too, posted photos from his meeting with Marles. "Pleased to meet DPM and Defence Minister of Australia @RichardMarlesMP. Exchanged views on regional and global security," he wrote.

Jaishankar also wrote that the growing defence and security cooperation between the two countries ensures a peaceful, prosperous and rules-based Indo-Pacific.

The US, India and several other world powers have been talking about the need to ensure a free, open and thriving Indo-Pacific in the backdrop of China's rising military manoeuvring in the region.

China claims nearly all of the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it.

Jaishankar is currently touring Australia to strengthen bilateral ties between the two sides. This is his second visit to Australia this year.