Exuberant fans followed them despite monsoon showers and heavy security deployment before Prime Minister Narendra Modi rolled out the red carpet for a breakfast meet as the T20 World Cup-winning Indian cricketers returned home to a euphoric reception on Thursday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Team India, the champions of the T20 World Cup 2024, at an exclusive gathering held at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. The players formed a circle around the Prime Minister. Captain Rohit Sharma sat to the right of PM Modi, with head coach Rahul Dravid positioned on his left. India's vice-captain Hardik Pandya was seated beside Rohit, while star batsman Virat Kohli and bowler Jasprit Bumrah occupied seats to the left of coach Dravid.
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They spent close to two hours at the 7, Lok Kalyan Marg residence of the Prime Minister before heading back to the hotel.
Earlier, hundreds of supporters, holding placards congratulating their favourites and waving the national flag, braved the inclement weather to wait outside the airport for the victorious side, which defeated South Africa by seven runs in the final in Bridgetown on Saturday last week.
There was dancing, there were multiple cakes, and there were fans on streets showing just why cricket is the most passionately followed sport in the country. The weary players joined in the fun after arriving at the hotel from airport to complete the party atmosphere.
"We have waited for this moment for the past 13 years. The team has made us proud by winning the World Cup," a fan, who claimed to have been waiting since 4:30am in the morning said, referring to India's last World Cup triumph which came back in 2011.
The side was unable to head back home immediately after the title win due to a shutdown forced by hurricane Beryl in Barbados. They were cocooned 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 star batter Virat Kohli, skipper Rohit Sharma and outgoing head coach Rahul Dravid.
The players will participate in an open bus victory parade starting at 5pm followed by a felicitation ceremony at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
It would be a special moment for the 37-year-old Rohit, who is a Mumbaikar and a huge fan favourite in the city.
A similar road show was held in Mumbai 17 years ago when Dhoni's team had beaten arch-rivals Pakistan in the final of the inaugural 2007 World T20 in South Africa.
(With Agency Inputs)
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