India return to heroes’ welcome after T20 WC triumph

India Captain Rohit Sharma (right) and Suryakumar Yadav with the ICC T20 World Cup Trophy

India’s triumphant T20 World Cup 2024 Squad touched down in New Delhi with the Trophy, following a marathon trip home from the Caribbean.

Squad members, support staff and families were grounded by Hurricane Beryl, at that stage a category four hurricanes that passed through Barbados, with Grantley Adams International Airport in Bridgetown shut for three days.

The flight organised by the BCCI, one of several to eventually take off from the airport, departed on July 2 before arriving early yesterday. 

The Air India special charter flight AIC24WC - Air India Champions 24 World Cup - took off from Bridgetown, Barbados around 4.50 a.m. local time on Wednesday and arrived in New Delhi at 6.00 a.m. (IST) on Thursday after a 16-hour non-stop journey.

Board officials and members of the media contingent from the tournament were also on the flight.

Hundreds of fans, holding placards congratulating their favourite players and waving the national flag, braved a steady drizzle to line-up outside the Indira Gandhi International Airport to welcome the victorious players.

India ended a 13-year global event drought with victory in the final, defeating South Africa by seven runs on Saturday. Jasprit Bumrah collected the Player of the Tournament honours.

The team also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence and thereafter, the team took part in an open bus victory parade followed by a felicitation ceremony at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. 

(Agencies)