T20 World Cup-winning Indian team felicitated at Wankhede after glittering victory parade through Mumbai’s Marine Drive

The Indian cricket team landed from Barbados in the early hours of Thursday morning to monsoon showers, heavy security deployment and received a euphoric reception. Team India clinched their first ICC title in 11 years on Saturday and first World Cup trophy since 2011. It was also India’s second T20 World Cup triumph after 2007.

Team India victory celebration: As it happened

The day involved meet and greets with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, fans, officials, an open-bus parade in Mumbai and a ceremony at the Wankhede Stadium.

The team were unable to head back home immediately after the title win due to a shutdown forced by Hurricane Beryl in Barbados. They were held up in their hotel before the BCCI secretary Jay Shah made arrangements for a special charter flight.

The Air India special charter flight AIC24WC — Air India Champions 24 World Cup — which left Barbados around 4:50am local time on Wednesday arrived in Delhi at 6am (IST) on Thursday after a 16-hour non-stop journey.

Heavy security was deployed to keep the crowd in check at the Indira Gandhi International airport but that did little to dampen the spirits as fans cheered enthusiastically holding up posters of Virat Kohli, captain Rohit Sharma and outgoing head coach Rahul Dravid.

Happiness All Around 🤗#TeamIndia’s arrival in India bringing joy to the many as they bask in the love and support 💙#T20WorldCup | #Champions pic.twitter.com/F282DWVKTD

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 4, 2024

The players trickled out in ones and twos after completing immigration formalities.

Tired but excited, they acknowledged the waiting fans by waving at them and flashing warm smiles.

Suryakumar Yadav, who took the sensational match-winning catch of David Miller in the final, was the most animated in responding to the cheering.

Rishabh Pant, who returned to international cricket after a life-threatening car accident, saluted the gathered crowd, while pacer Mohammed Siraj blew flying kisses in their direction.

Rohit Sharma and Player of the Final Virat Kohli, both of whom retired from T20Is at the end of India’s campaign, were among the last to come out of the VIP exit.

Rohit raised the coveted trophy for the fans to catch a glimpse before boarding the bus. Kohli, on his part, gave a thumbs up to acknowledge the support.

In their excitement to see their heroes in person, some fans claimed that they had been waiting outside the airport since last night.

“We have been here since last night. It was very important for us to win this World Cup after losing the ODI World Cup last year,” a group of fans said.

Two buses were stationed outside the T3 Terminal to ferry the players to ITC Maurya Sheraton, where they were greeted by dhol and traditional Bhangra dancers.

Most of them, including Rohit, all-rounder Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant, shook a leg with the assembled dancers, giving them a memory of a lifetime.

Even the on-duty security personnel had smiles on their faces as the players let their hair down after the long journey, shook hands with everyone who wanted to and moved into their rooms after cutting a cake that was kept ready for them.

All of this unfolded amid expected media frenzy. A brief while later, they left to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence.

A memorable occasion as #TeamIndia got the opportunity to meet the Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modiji in Delhi 🙌@narendramodi | @JayShah pic.twitter.com/eqJ7iv9yVw

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 4, 2024

At 7 Lok Kalyan Marg, Indian cricket team members, wearing jerseys that said “Champions”, posed alongside PM Modi at his residence with the T20 World Cup trophy in hands.

The Indian team were accompanied by BCCI secretary Jay Shah and president Roger Binny for the ceremony. The duo presented the Prime Minister with a special “Namo 1” jersey in India colours.

In the over an hour long stay, the team shared their feelings and how they fought back from tough situations while speaking with PM Modi.

PM Modi asked Rohit how the pitch tasted after the skipper was seen chewing a piece of the turf. Kohli, who had struggled for runs going into the final, was asked what was his thought process going into the final. Axar Patel was asked how he felt when he was promoted up the order against South Africa.

Wankhede, Marine Drive witness another night of frenzied celebrations

The Indian team landed at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport at 5.28 pm, with Rohit and the rest of the team along with support staff and BCCI officials boarding a special Air Vistara flight UK 1845 that departed from the national capital at 3.42 pm.

What made their arrival in the ‘Maximum City’ even more special was the fact that the aircraft they arrived in received a special water salute at the airport, with a team of airport ground staff guiding the plane towards the terminal in a set of three vehicles, one of which had an individual waving the tricolour.

Team India's flight UK1845 receives a water salute at Mumbai airport.#T20WorldCup #VictoryParade #Champions #ChampionsReturn pic.twitter.com/u8u4HtJyhl

— News18 CricketNext (@cricketnext) July 4, 2024

Mumbai’s iconic Marine Drive, meanwhile, was chock-a-block even before the Men in Blue had left the airport, and it took more than an hour for the players and support staff to leave the airport.

As a result, unlike the previous victory parade that was accorded to MS Dhoni and his team after their triumph in the inaugural edition of the T20 World Cup in 2007, Rohit and Co’s parade and subsequent felicitation at the Wankhede Stadium took place after sunset.

Marine Drive live up to its nickname of the ‘Queen’s Necklace’ as it looked spectacular with its bright lights against the backdrop of the Mumbai skyline and the black abyss that was the Arabian Sea.

The open-top bus carrying the Indian players and support staff as well as top BCCI officials such as BCCI secretary Jay Shah and vice-president Rajeev Shukla — all of whom were clad in blue jerseys — moved at a snail’s pace through the packed Marine Drive, with the highlight of the parade being skipper Rohit and fellow batting stalwart Kohli raising the trophy in celebration at the front of the bus.

The players were then greeted with massive roar at the Wankhede Stadium that was packed to the rafters — the kind of turnout that one would normally witness for matches. Emotional speeches from Rohit, Kohli, Player of the Tournament Jasprit Bumrah as well as outgoing head coach Rahul Dravid were followed by the team finally receiving the cheque of Rs 125 crore from the board.

Team India then performed a lap of honour around the Wankhede with the trophy, similar to the scenes after India’s triumph over Sri Lanka in the final of the 2011 World Cup, with Rohit, Kohli and the rest of the players breaking into impromptu jigs.