Archive · 16 Aug 2026
Tharoor Jokes About 'Austria' Typo Congratulating Bangladesh's Historic Australia Win
A famous Indian politician named Shashi Tharoor sent a happy message to Bangladesh.
Bangladesh's cricket team had just won a very important match against Australia.
But Mr. Tharoor made a funny mistake in his message.
He wrote 'Austria' instead of 'Australia.'
Austria is a country in Europe, while Australia is a very different country far away.
People noticed the funny mix-up and laughed.
Mr. Tharoor laughed too and blamed his phone's autocorrect.
He said he was spending the weekend in Hamburg, Germany.
Bangladesh won its first-ever Test cricket match on Australian soil.
That is why everyone was celebrating.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor congratulated Bangladesh on its historic Test win over Australia in Darwin.
His initial post mistakenly said Bangladesh had "beaten Austria in Darwin" instead of Australia.
Tharoor jokingly blamed "autocorrect" having a "geographical bias" while he was in Hamburg.
Bangladesh thrashed top-ranked Australia by nine wickets in the series opener at Marrara Oval on Sunday.
The victory was Bangladesh's first-ever Test win on Australian soil, in only their third attempt.
- Who
- Congress MP Shashi Tharoor; the Bangladesh cricket team led by captain Najmul Hossain Shanto; the Australia cricket team
- What
- Tharoor mistakenly wrote "Austria" instead of "Australia" while congratulating Bangladesh on its historic nine-wicket Test victory over Australia
- When
- Sunday, after Bangladesh's victory in the Test series opener
- Where
- Marrara Oval in Darwin; Tharoor was in Hamburg at the time
- Why
- Tharoor was congratulating Bangladesh on its first-ever Test win on Australian soil, which he called the greatest victory in their Test history
- Politician
- Shashi Tharoor, Congress MP
- Match
- Test series opener between Australia and Bangladesh
- Result
- Bangladesh won by 9 wickets
- Venue
- Marrara Oval, Darwin
- Historical significance
- Bangladesh's first-ever Test win on Australian soil
- Bangladesh's attempts
- Third Test on Australian soil; first red-ball appearance in Australia in 23 years
- Tharoor's error
- Wrote "Austria" instead of "Australia"
- Tharoor's explanation
- Blamed autocorrect's "geographical bias"; was in Hamburg for the weekend