PM Modi Invokes Cricket To Describe India–UK FTA: ‘High-Scoring, Solid Partnership’

Last Updated:July 24, 2025, 16:31 IST

Cricket and commerce took center stage as Modi and Starmer announced a landmark trade deal.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands after Britain's Secretary of State for Business and Trade, Jonathan Reynolds and Piyush Goyal, Minister of Industry and Supply of India, signed a free trade agreement at Chequers near Aylesbury, England. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during a joint press briefing with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer in Aylesbury, England, drew a spirited comparison between cricket and diplomacy. “For both of us, cricket is not just a game, but a passion. And also, a great metaphor for our partnership," Modi said. “There may be a swing and a miss at times, but we always play with a straight bat! We are committed to building a high-scoring solid partnership."

The remarks came shortly after the two leaders formally concluded the long-awaited India–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA), hailed as a milestone by both sides.

Modi said the deal would boost Indian exports such as textiles, footwear, gems, jewellery and seafood, while giving Indian consumers more affordable access to UK products like medical devices and aerospace components. He noted that the agreement will “create new job opportunities" and benefit “India’s youth, farmers, fishermen, and MSMEs."

Starmer called it “the most significant deal the UK has signed since leaving the EU," adding that it would “boost wages, raise living standards and put more money in the pockets of working people." He said the deal sends a clear message that “the UK is open for business."

The cricket metaphor came as the Indian men’s team continues their Test tour of England. The fourth Test of the Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy is currently underway at Old Trafford, Manchester. While neither Modi nor Starmer attended the match, the PMO’s cricket reference kept the spirit of the series alive.

Sir Keir Starmer, a supporter of the Arsenal football club that plays in the English Premier League and an occasional player in Sunday league football, has long championed sport as a means of diplomacy and community engagement.

Shankhyaneel Sarkar

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev...Read More

Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev...

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Location :

Aylesbury, England

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