Canberra/IBNS: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese left a message for his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi hosting cricketers from the latter's country in Canberra on Thursday.

Albanese met the cricketers in the capital city ahead of a two-day Pink Ball Test match between Australia Prime Minister XI and Team India.

India captain Rohit Sharma introduced all his teammates. Albanese had some fun with Jasprit Bumrah and Virat Kohli, the chief architects of India's 295-run win over Australia.

Sharing the pictures from the Australian parliament, Albanese wrote on X, "Big challenge ahead for the PM’s XI at Manuka Oval this week against an amazing Indian side. But as I said to PM @narendramodi, I’m backing the Aussies to get the job done."

Responding to the Australian Prime Minister, Modi reposted on X, "Glad to see my good friend Prime Minister @AlboMP with the Indian and PM’s XI teams. Team India is off to a great start in the series and 1.4 billion Indians are strongly rooting for the Men in Blue. I look forward to exciting games ahead."

Leaving behind the embarrassing 0-3 whitewash by New Zealand back home, India warded off all criticisms with a brilliant start to the five-match Border Gavaskar Trophy 2024 in Perth earlier this week.

Banking on Bumrah's eight wickets including a fifer, youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal's 161 and 30th Test hundred by Kohli, India decimated Australia by 295 runs to take 1-0 lead.

Ahead of the second Test beginning on December 6 in Adelaide, India will play a two-day Pink Ball Test in Canberra against Australia PM XI.

The match will provide a perfect preparation for the second Test, which will be played with the pink ball day-night.