The Indian cricket team has finally landed in Delhi after their victorious 2024 T20 World Cup campaign. It was around 6:05 AM in the morning the the Air India flight carrying the T20 world champions landed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. At around 7:00 AM, the Indian team, led by Rohit Sharma walked out of the airport and boarded their team bus. While other members of the team boarded the team bus first, it was skipper Rohit who walked out with the T20 World Cup trophy in his hand, leaving fans at the airport spellbound.
Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and other members of the team had been stuck in Barbados (the venue of the final) since Monday, as airports had been shut due to Hurricane Beryl hitting the Caribbean city. However, after a special flight was arranged for Team India, they were able to land in the early hours of Thursday morning. The players are now scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, before embarking on an open-top bus parade in Mumbai.
India's return flight had a special call sign assigned by Air India: AIC24WC, standing for Air India Champions 24 World Cup.
The team is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the day, at around 11 am, in the national capital.
From there, the team will fly to Mumbai, where a special ceremony has been organised to celebrate the T20 World Cup triumph. The players and staff will travel to Mumbai by 4 pm, after which they'll celebrate across the city on an open-top bus parade for the following two hours.
The bus parade is expected to start at 5 pm from the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA), located near the famous Nariman Point, travel through Marine Drive, and continue till they reach the Wankhede Stadium.
The victorious players will then be felicitated at an event arranged between 7 and 7:30 pm.
"It's coming home," tweeted Indian captain Rohit Sharma, welcoming fans to join the team during its celebratory bus parade.
we want to enjoy this special moment with all of you.
So let's celebrate this win with a victory parade at Marine Drive & Wankhede on July 4th from 5:00pm onwards.
It's coming home
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, 2024This won't be the first time a bus parade happens through Mumbai, as a similar thing had been done when MS Dhoni and a youthful India side lifted the inaugural 2007 T20 World Cup.
India snatched victory from the jaws of defeat with a seven-run win over South Africa in the T20 World Cup final.