Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday praised the United States cricket team for their performance against India in the ongoing T20 World Cup, saying the side played “fabulously” despite losing the match.

Goyal made the remarks while responding to light-hearted comments by US Ambassador Sergio Gor at a reception hosted by the diplomat. Both were present at the India-USA T20 World Cup match played on Saturday.

Speaking at the event, the minister acknowledged the rapid progress made by the US cricket team in recent years. He also joked that trade policy might have changed the match’s outcome.

“The US may not have won the match, but for a country which has not known cricket and has started playing only a few years ago, the performance was fabulous,” Goyal said.

Referring to Ambassador Gor’s comments, he added humorously that if the US had made reciprocal tariffs zero, “you would possibly have won the match”.

India seal first win of the tournament

India registered their first victory of the tournament with a 29-run win over the USA. After being asked to bat first, India posted 161 for nine in their allotted 20 overs.

Suryakumar Yadav anchored the innings with an unbeaten 84 off 49 balls, hitting 10 fours and four sixes. Ishan Kishan contributed 20 off 16 deliveries, while Tilak Varma added 25 off 16 balls.

For the USA, Shadley van Schalkwyk returned figures of 4 for 29, while Harmeet Singh picked up two wickets for 26 runs.

USA fall short in chase

Chasing 162, the USA were restricted to 132 for eight, falling short by 29 runs.

Milind Kumar scored 34 off 34 balls, while Sanjay Krishnamurthi (37 off 31) and Shubham Ranjane (37 off 22) provided resistance in the middle order.

India’s bowlers shared the spoils, with Mohammed Siraj taking three wickets for 29 runs. Axar Patel and Arshdeep Singh chipped in with two wickets each.

India and Canada have taken a measured step toward repairing strained bilateral ties following National Security Adviser Ajit Doval’s visit to Ottawa last week. The NSA-level engagement marks one of the most substantive security interactions between the two countries in recent years and signals a cautious return to dialogue after a prolonged diplomatic freeze.

Doval’s visit, held from February 6 to 7, comes against the backdrop of tensions that followed a diplomatic row in 2023 over the killing of a Khalistani separatist. While both sides described the talks as part of routine bilateral engagement, officials and analysts see the timing as significant, indicating a deliberate effort to stabilise relations.

Focus on security and law enforcement cooperation

During the visit, Doval held meetings with Canada’s Deputy Clerk and National Security and Intelligence Adviser to the Prime Minister, Nathalie Drouin, and Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree. The discussions centred on strengthening cooperation in national security and law enforcement, with an emphasis on practical and result-oriented collaboration.

According to India’s official statement, both sides acknowledged progress on initiatives aimed at enhancing the safety and security of their citizens. They also agreed on a shared work plan to guide future cooperation, underscoring a mutual intent to rebuild trust through structured engagement.

Canada’s readout echoed this approach, highlighting agreement on concrete steps rather than broad political signalling. A key outcome of the meetings was the decision to establish security and law-enforcement liaison officers in each other’s countries, a move expected to streamline communication and improve information-sharing.

Cooperation on cyber threats, drugs and immigration enforcement

Officials said the liaison mechanism would help address issues such as transnational organised crime, the illegal flow of drugs—including fentanyl precursors—and other cross-border security challenges. These concerns have increasingly featured in bilateral discussions between New Delhi and Ottawa.

The talks also covered cooperation on cybersecurity policy and the sharing of information related to cyber threats. Continued engagement on fraud prevention and immigration enforcement was discussed as well, with both sides stressing that collaboration would remain aligned with domestic laws and international obligations.

The careful wording of official statements reflects sensitivity to past disputes and the need for institutional safeguards as ties are gradually rebuilt.

Message on extremism and diplomatic reset

Beyond the immediate outcomes, Doval’s visit is being viewed as a broader signal that extremist groups, including Khalistani-linked networks, do not enjoy official backing under the current Canadian government led by Prime Minister Mark Carney.

The engagement is also seen as laying the groundwork for a possible prime ministerial-level visit. Officials in both capitals are treating the NSA talks as an important precursor to Carney’s likely visit to India next month, which would mark the first such engagement since relations deteriorated sharply.

Background of strained ties

India-Canada relations hit a low point during the tenure of former prime minister Justin Trudeau, particularly after his 2023 allegations of a potential Indian link to the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India had rejected the claims as “absurd,” leading to mutual recriminations and downgraded diplomatic engagement.

Against that backdrop, the resumption of structured security dialogue is being interpreted as a sign that both sides are seeking to move past recent turbulence. Analysts note that cooperation in technical and functional areas such as law enforcement and cybersecurity could help rebuild confidence and create momentum for broader political engagement.

While the visit does not resolve all outstanding issues, it reflects a willingness to re-engage seriously. With high-level political contact potentially on the horizon, India and Canada appear to be cautiously steering their relationship back toward a more stable and predictable footing.

India has reiterated that its energy security requirements will continue to guide decisions on crude oil imports, amid renewed pressure from the United States to halt purchases from Russia.

Responding to questions on India’s oil sourcing strategy, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the country’s priority remains meeting the energy needs of its 1.4 billion population. The government emphasised that diversification of energy supplies is central to ensuring stable and affordable access to fuel.

“Insofar as India’s energy sourcing is concerned, ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion Indians is the supreme priority of the government,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during a press briefing.

He added that India’s approach involves sourcing energy in line with market conditions and evolving global dynamics, a position the government has consistently articulated over time.

US pressure and tariff rollback linked to trade framework

The remarks come after the White House stated that India had committed to stopping direct or indirect imports of Russian oil and would instead increase purchases from the United States. This claim formed part of the context under which Washington decided to withdraw additional tariffs earlier imposed on Indian goods over New Delhi’s purchases of Russian crude.

The US has repeatedly argued that revenues from Russian oil exports are being used to fund the ongoing war in Ukraine, an allegation that Moscow has denied.

India, however, has not announced any formal change in its oil import policy and has continued to stress that energy decisions are driven by national interest.

Russia says India free to choose suppliers

The Kremlin has also weighed in on the issue, saying India is free to procure oil from any source it chooses. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted that Russia is not India’s sole supplier of oil and petroleum products.

“India has always purchased these products from other countries. Therefore, we see nothing new here,” Peskov said.

Trade deal outlines tariff changes on both sides

Under the broader trade framework with the US, India has agreed to eliminate or reduce tariffs on all US industrial goods and a wide range of agricultural and food products. These include dried distillers’ grains, red sorghum for animal feed, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruits, soybean oil, as well as wine and spirits.

In return, the US will impose a reciprocal tariff of 18 per cent on Indian-origin goods under the relevant executive order. The tariff will apply to sectors such as textiles and apparel, leather and footwear, plastics and rubber, organic chemicals, home decor, artisanal products, and certain categories of machinery.