With a seating capacity of nearly 130,000 spectators, the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad can be a busy place. Yet, for associate sport minister Chris Bishop, the most memorable moment of the India-New Zealand T20 World Cup final came in a quiet corner inside the President’s Box.

At the enclosure on a special invite, Bishop found himself face-to-face with two of India’s cricketing icons: Former World Cup-winning captains Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni.

"It was a dream come true to meet a couple of my cricketing heroes," Bishop told Awaaz after the meeting, which took place during his ongoing official visit to India. The minister is currently in India with sporting leaders from New Zealand as part of the government's ambitious push for sports diplomacy with the South Asian giant.

Chris Bishop in Ahmedabad for the T20 World Cup final between India and New Zealand on March 8. (Supplied photo)

At the final on March 8, the minister spoke briefly with Kapil Dev, recalling India’s famous 1983 World Cup victory, and the legendary rivalry between Dev and New Zealand fast-bowling great Sir Richard Hadlee.

Dhoni, Bishop said, spoke warmly about New Zealand and his previous visits to the country. "He said NZ is a friendly place to visit and India loves touring there. I invited him to come on the India tour of NZ later this year and said he would be very welcome."

The encounter reflects a broader pattern in New Zealand’s engagement with India, where cricket has increasingly become a useful diplomatic bridge. The use of the sport as a diplomatic tool was on display during prime minister Christopher Luxon’s visit to India last year in search of a free trade agreement.

During the trip, Luxon joined a street cricket game in New Delhi organised with local children. The match took place on a closed-off street where bricks served as wickets and chalk lines marked the crease. Standing alongside him was one of his childhood heroes, Kapil Dev.

Prime minister Christopher Luxon plays street cricket in New Delhi during his trip in March 2025. (Interest.co.nz)

Former Black Caps Ross Taylor and Ajaz Patel were also part of the delegation and joined the game. Luxon took guard against Patel’s spin bowling and played a few expansive shots before eventually claiming a wicket of his own when a young fielder held onto a catch.

Later in the visit, the prime minister again padded up at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium, he took a few ceremonial shots on one of cricket’s most famous grounds.

The moments were light-hearted, but officials said they reflected a deliberate effort to tap into the enormous cultural pull of cricket in India. With the sport commanding vast audiences and deep emotional resonance across the country, New Zealand leaders increasingly see it as a natural bridge for strengthening political, cultural and business ties.

Bishop’s meeting with Dhoni and Kapil Dev in Ahmedabad now adds another small chapter to that approach, one that blends diplomacy with a sport both countries share deep affection for.