New Delhi
The ICC T20 World Cup-winning Indian team touched down in Delhi on Thursday to a warm welcome from the fans awaiting the sight of their favourite heroes and sight of the silverware. The winning team members are invited to a breakfast meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The squad members, support staff, their families and media were stuck in Barbados, which was hit by Hurricane Beryl, at that stage a category four hurricane that passed through Barbados, with Grantley Adams International Airport in Bridgetown shut for three days.
The flight was organised by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah and departed on July 2 before arriving in Delhi at around 6:00 AM on Thursday morning. Board officials and members of the media contingent from the tournament were also on the flight.
The BCCI poisted this video of the flight from Barbados to New Delhi on X:
Travelling with the prestigious 🏆 on the way back home! 😍
— BCCI (@BCCI) July 4, 2024
🎥 WATCH: #TeamIndia were in excellent company during their memorable travel day ✈️👌 - By @RajalArora #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/0ivb9m9Zp1
The moment Indian players landed at their airports, they were welcomed amid loud cheers by fans, who shouted 'India India' at the top of their lungs while some also shouted the names of their favourite players on seeing them. Men in Blue also acknowledged their fans' support, waving at them after sitting inside the team bus which is going to ITC Maurya hotel, where the team will stay.
India ended a 13-year ICC trophy drought with victory in the final, defeating South Africa by seven runs on Saturday. Virat Kohli's 76 helped India reach 176/7 while Hardik Pandya (3/20) and Jasprit Bumrah (2/18) helped India restrict Proteas to 169/8 despite Heinrich Klaasen's 52 in just 27 balls. Bumrah, who got 15 scalps throughout the tournament at a stunning economy rate of 4.17, got the 'Player of the Tournament' honours.
From the hotel, Team India reached the ITC Maurya hotel, where they would stay before their meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Notably, Virat, Rohit, Hardik and head coach Rahul Dravid were spotted at the hotel.
A special cake featuring the T20 World Cup trophy will be cut at the hotel to celebrate the win.
Video of the Indian team arriving at the Hotel are going viral on social media:
You know you have achieved one of the best feats in the world when you not only get a grand welcome back to the motherland at #DelhiAirport but PM @NarendraModi himself would personally meet you during the day. After all, the boys are bringing the T20 trophy back home after 17… pic.twitter.com/LSgrJOPgxm
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 4, 2024
Much like other teams do after winning titles, the Rohit-led side will have an open-top bus ride in Mumbai at Marine Drive and the iconic Wankhede Stadium from 5:00 pm onwards to celebrate. After their meeting with PM Modi, Men in Blue will depart for Mumbai for the grand celebratory parade.
The special flight then took off from Bridgetown at 4:50am local time, which also had the Indian team support staff, the players' families, BCCI officials and 22 traveling media persons.
After landing in New Delhi, the T20 World Cup winning contingent will head to the ITC Maurya hotel and then have a felicitation meeting for breakfast with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg.
The winning Indian team is scheduled to land in Mumbai at 4pm, after taking off from New Delhi at 2pm. In Mumbai, the victorious team will board the open bus from the National Centre for Performing Arts (NPCA) and be in the victory parade from 5pm to 7pm.
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BCCI chief Jay Shah posted this message on X for the Mumbaikars:
🏆🇮🇳 Join us for the Victory Parade honouring Team India's World Cup win! Head to Marine Drive and Wankhede Stadium on July 4th from 5:00 pm onwards to celebrate with us! Save the date! #TeamIndia #Champions @BCCI @IPL pic.twitter.com/pxJoI8mRST
— Jay Shah (@JayShah) July 3, 2024
The open bus victory parade will go through Marine Drive and conclude at the Wankhede Stadium, allowing for fans to have a glimpse of their favorite players who brought a major trophy home after 11 years. From 7 to 7:30pm, there will be a small function for the victorious Indian team to be felicitated at the Wankhede Stadium, following which players will disperse to the hotel.
