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July 5, 2024
The victorious Indian cricket team returned home to an unforgettable celebration. From a grand bus parade to a spectacular water salute, the day unfolded in a way that Rohit Sharma and his teammates will cherish forever.
It was a night that Indian cricket fans will remember for years. Mumbai transformed into a sea of blue as it warmly welcomed its heroes, who brought home an ICC trophy for the first time in 11 years.
It was a day filled with excitement and celebration that began in the early hours of July 4 and continued late into the night. The journey kicked off in Delhi, where a specially chartered flight, AIC24WC, touched down after an exhausting 15-hour journey from Barbados. This flight became a sensation, becoming the most-tracked flight on Flightradar24, the renowned Swedish flight-tracking platform, as fans eagerly awaited the arrival of their champions.
Upon landing, the team received a grand welcome. As Rohit Sharma emerged from the aircraft, he proudly held aloft the coveted trophy, signaling the end of a long-awaited championship drought. The atmosphere was electric; Suryakumar Yadav, filled with joy, couldn’t resist dancing spontaneously while teammates exchanged hugs and high-fives. The cheers and laughter of fans filled the air, marking a triumphant homecoming for the heroes of Indian cricket.
However, as Virat Kohli would later reflect, the return felt somewhat anti-climactic. After four days spent in Barbados celebrating their victory, the team was delayed due to Hurricane Beryl, which prevented an earlier return. Nevertheless, the joy of bringing home the ICC trophy, the first in 11 years, overshadowed any lingering frustration. The team was back where they belonged, ready to bask in the admiration of their fans.
After landing, the team made their way directly to the ITC Maurya Hotel for a brief stopover, where they took a moment to regroup and soak in the joy of their victory. From there, they headed to 7 Lok Kalyan Marg to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence.
During their visit, the players engaged in heartfelt conversations with the Prime Minister, sharing their experiences and the emotions surrounding their historic win. The meeting culminated in a formal photoshoot, where the team proudly posed with the trophy, capturing the moment of triumph.
And yet, the day was beginning.
By 3 PM, the team was back at the airport, boarding a Vistara flight named UK1845, a fitting tribute to their captain Rohit Sharma and star player Virat Kohli. Their destination? Mumbai, the heart of Indian cricket, where a grand 2-kilometer-long victory parade awaited, along with thousands of enthusiastic fans eager to celebrate their heroes.
Upon arrival at the airport, their plane was honored with a water salute—a traditional gesture reserved for special occasions, symbolizing the team’s remarkable achievement. While the parade was set to commence at 5 PM, the team’s flight landed slightly later, at 5:30 PM, adding to the anticipation and excitement of the waiting crowd.
Due to the rain and the overwhelming number of fans, the schedule was delayed by a couple of hours. Enthusiastic supporters waited patiently, even climbing trees for the perfect vantage point. Inside the Wankhede Stadium, fans had gathered since 3 PM, eagerly anticipating an event that ultimately began around 7:30 PM.
The scenes were nothing short of spectacular when the parade finally kicked off. The Indian team’s bus waded through a sea of fans who had filled Marine Drive to capacity, creating an electrifying atmosphere.
As the bus passed, the players took turns raising the trophy, each moment met with enthusiastic cheers. However, when Rohit and Kohli held it together, the crowd erupted in the loudest cheer yet, a powerful testament to their shared triumph.
The team was met with another rousing welcome upon arriving at the Wankhede. Hardik Pandya, who had faced boos at the same stadium during the IPL just two months prior, now stood at the center of an ecstatic cheer. A formal felicitation ceremony followed, where Jay Shah and other BCCI officials awarded the team the prize money of INR 125 crore.
Rohit Sharma, Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah delivered heartfelt speeches, reflecting on their journey and achievements. Kohli, in particular, earned praise for his poignant words acknowledging Bumrah’s invaluable contribution to Indian cricket.
“It’s the first time in 15 years of playing together that we’ve seen Rohit so emotional,” Kohli said.
They danced, embraced, and celebrated with a victory lap around the ground. After 13 long years, the Wankhede Stadium once again witnessed an Indian captain proudly holding aloft the World Cup. This moment echoed the euphoria of that unforgettable night.
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Katarzyna Nowak is a seasoned writer with over five years of experience in editorial content, news reporting, and cricket sportsbook app reviews. As an author for Top Cricket News, she combines her deep understanding of the sports betting industry with a passion for cricket, delivering insightful and accurate content that keeps readers informed and engaged.
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