India’s T20 champs are back in India!
Tired but excited, the players of the T20 World Cup-winning Indian cricket team. Acknowledged their waiting fans with waves and warm smiles as they returned to the country on Thursday. The team arrived aboard a specially arranged charter flight. Greeted by scores of fans outside the airport despite a steady drizzle and heavy security that kept them at a distance from their heroes.
Hundreds of supporters, holding placards and waving the national flag. Braved the weather to welcome the victorious team, which triumphed over South Africa by seven runs in the final in Bridgetown the previous Saturday. “We have waited for this moment for the past 13 years. The team has made us proud by winning the World Cup,” said a fan who claimed to have been waiting since 4:30 am. Referring to India’s last World Cup victory in 2011.
The team could not return home immediately after their title win due to a shutdown caused by Hurricane Beryl in Barbados. They were confined to their hotel until the BCCI arranged the special charter flight. The Air India special charter flight AIC24WC — Air India Champions 24 World Cup — departed Barbados at 4:50 am local time on Wednesday and arrived in Delhi at 6 am (IST) on Thursday after a 16-hour non-stop journey.
The flight carried the Indian squad, support staff, players’ families, BCCI officials, and members of the traveling media contingent. Despite heavy security at Indira Gandhi International Airport, fans cheered enthusiastically, holding posters of star batter Virat Kohli, skipper Rohit Sharma, and outgoing head coach Rahul Dravid. Two buses were stationed outside the T3 Terminal to transport the players to their hotel, from where they would head to the Prime Minister’s residence for a reception at 9 am.
India’s T20 champs are back in India!
The players trickled out one by one after completing immigration formalities. Suryakumar Yadav, who took the match-winning catch of David Miller in the final, was the most enthusiastic in responding to the cheering crowd. Wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant saluted the crowd, while pacer Mohammed Siraj blew flying kisses in their direction.
Its earlier World Cup titles came in 1983 (ODI), 2007 (T20) and 2011 (ODI).
After meeting the Prime Minister, the players will fly to Mumbai to participate in an open bus victory parade followed by a felicitation ceremony at the Wankhede Stadium.
