“As Long As Someone Beats Australia!”: New Zealand PM’s Cheeky Comment on India’s World Cup Triumph

New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon delivered a tongue-in-cheek diplomatic masterstroke on Wednesday while hosting Indian Union Minister Piyush Goyal for bilateral trade talks, declaring that Kiwi cricket fans were “very proud” of India’s maiden Women’s World Cup triumph—provided it meant someone finally beat Australia. Speaking to ANI at Auckland’s Cordis Hotel amid discussions on an early-harvest Free Trade Agreement, Luxon quipped, “As long as someone beats Australia, that’s all we care about, and that’s what you guys do so well.” The remark, met with roaring laughter from the Indian diaspora, instantly went viral across cricket-mad nations.

Luxon revealed he stayed up late to watch highlights of India’s 52-run final victory over South Africa at Navi Mumbai’s DY Patil Stadium, praising Harmanpreet Kaur’s side as “truly world-class.” He admitted New Zealand’s own campaign ended in heartbreak when India knocked out the White Ferns in a virtual quarter-final but insisted national pride took a back seat to trans-Tasman rivalry. “We would have loved New Zealand to win,” he said, “but after you took care of Australia in that semifinal, we were all cheering for India.”

The Prime Minister’s jab referenced India’s sensational semifinal upset in Dubai, where Jemimah Rodrigues’ unbeaten 125 and spinners Renuka Singh and Deepti Sharma dismantled the seven-time champions by 59 runs—ending Australia’s 15-match World Cup winning streak. That victory not only propelled India to their first-ever final but also avenged decades of Kiwi frustration against their neighbours, who have dominated the rivalry across formats.

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Luxon’s playful diplomacy struck a chord online, with #BeatAustralia trending in both countries and Australian PM Anthony Albanese posting a mock-hurt emoji on X. The comment came hours after India’s triumph parade in Mumbai drew over 200,000 fans, while New Zealand Cricket officially congratulated the winners despite the quarter-final sting. As both nations push for a mini-FTA by December 2025, Luxon’s cricket banter has already been hailed as the most effective soft-power opener in bilateral ties since the 2023 World Cup.

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