The flight carrying the ICC T20 World Cup-winning Indian cricket team, organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah, departed on July 2 and arrived in Delhi at around 6:00 AM on Thursday morning. This flight included not only the squad members but also support staff, their families, and members of the media contingent from the tournament. The team had been stranded in Barbados due to Hurricane Beryl, a category four hurricane, which resulted in the shutdown of Grantley Adams International Airport in Bridgetown for three days.
Upon their arrival in Delhi, the Indian players were greeted with loud cheers and enthusiastic chants of “India India” by their fans. Some fans even shouted the names of their favorite players upon seeing them. The players, acknowledging their supporters, waved from inside the team bus as it headed to the ITC Maurya hotel, where the team would be staying. This victory ended India’s 13-year ICC trophy drought, with a thrilling win in the final against South Africa by seven runs.
Key performances included Virat Kohli’s 76, which helped India reach a total of 176/7, and the combined efforts of Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah, who restricted South Africa to 169/8 despite Heinrich Klaasen’s rapid 52 off 27 balls. Jasprit Bumrah, who took 15 wickets throughout the tournament at a remarkable economy rate of 4.17, was awarded the ‘Player of the Tournament’ honors.
After their arrival, the team moved to the ITC Maurya hotel where they would stay before a scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Notable figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and head coach Rahul Dravid were seen at the hotel. To celebrate the victory, a special cake featuring the T20 World Cup trophy was to be cut at the hotel.
In celebration of their win, the Rohit Sharma-led team planned an open-top bus ride in Mumbai at Marine Drive and the iconic Wankhede Stadium from 5:00 PM onwards. Following their meeting with PM Modi, the team would depart for Mumbai for the grand celebratory parade. This event would allow fans to join in the celebration and honor the team for their remarkable achievement.
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as a health advice. We would ask you to consult a qualified professional or medical expert to gain additional knowledge before you choose to consume any product or perform any exercise.
