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By Vineet Dikshit

A day before embarking on a historic visit to India, the prime minister of Australia Anthony Albanese in a radio interview said he will be present with Narendra Modi at the toss on Thursday the 9th of March 2023 when the fourth and final test match begins in Ahmedabad.

Tough it’s the last test match in the on-going series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, stakes for India are very high as a win will ensure final place for world test championship.

The Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Australian counterpart will be in attendance on the opening day of the fourth Test on Thursday.

In a radio interview with NOVA 93.7 Perth ahead of his ongoing visit to India, Albanese confirmed to the hosts, Nat Locke and Shaun Mcmanus, that he and PM Modi will be at the toss for the Ahmedabad Test.
“There is a lot of pressure on because myself and Prime Minister Modi are tossing the coin,” read a transcript of Albanese’s radio interview on the PM’s official website.
However, the Australian PM did not say if it will be him or PM Modi who will toss the coin.
To a question by the host, Nat, on “how do two people toss one coin”, the Australian PM said, “I have no idea how it is going to work. But he is the home Prime Minister. So, I think he will be in charge.”
Banners of Prime Minister Modi and his Australian counterpart have gone up at the Narendra Modi stadium ahead of the final Test.
Earlier, Australian High Commissioner to India, Barry O’Farrell was quoted by the ANI that the Australian Prime Minister will watch Day-1 of the fourth Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series along with PM Modi on March 9.
“One of the things that bind both countries is cricket and it will be great to see the leaders of India and Australia on day one of the matches in Ahmedabad,” the Australian High Commissioner said.
India is currently leading the series 2-1. However, the hosts need to secure an outright victory in the final Test to qualify for the final of the ICC World Test Championship.
Should they quality, India will be up against the same opponent in the battle for the coveted Test crown. The championship clash will be staged in London from June 7 onwards.
It may be recalled that India had won the first Test at Nagpur by an innings and 132 runs and followed it up with a six-wicket win in the second Test at Delhi.