Aoba Tanaka 
Nearly five days have passed since the Rohit Sharma-led Indian cricket team ended a 13-year-long wait for a World Cup trophy at Kensington Oval in Barbados, defeating South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2024 final. The excitement surrounding India’s historic victory remains palpable, as the nation revels in their cricketing triumph after an 11-year ICC trophy drought marked by numerous heartbreaks.
In Barbados, celebrations were rampant. Rohit Sharma revealed that the team partied the entire night at their hotel, soaking in the long-awaited victory. However, the jubilation didn’t stop there. The cricketers, support staff, their families, and BCCI officials faced a delay in returning home due to Hurricane Beryl. Their journey finally concluded on Thursday morning when the Air India special flight, arranged by BCCI, landed in New Delhi at 6:10 am IST.
As the team arrived in the capital, BCCI shared a heartwarming video of the players unboxing the T20 World Cup trophy. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shivam Dube, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Siraj, and Ravindra Jadeja were seen embracing the trophy, kissing it, and cherishing the moment before placing it back in its case.
For Rohit Sharma, the victory held special significance. This T20 World Cup was his last attempt at securing the title, and he succeeded, joining the elite list of Indian captains—Kapil Dev and MS Dhoni—who have won World Cups. The sight of Rohit celebrating with the trophy resonated deeply with fans and teammates alike.
The Indian squad’s return was met with a rapturous welcome. Hundreds of fans, undeterred by a steady drizzle, lined up outside Indira Gandhi International Airport, waving national flags and holding placards to congratulate their heroes.
The Air India special charter flight, AIC24WC (Air India Champions 24 World Cup), departed from Bridgetown, Barbados, at 4:50 am local time on Wednesday and arrived in Delhi after a 16-hour non-stop journey. The flight carried the entire Indian squad, support staff, players’ families, BCCI officials, and members of the media.
Upon landing, the players and officials headed to ITC Maurya, where special arrangements had been made to honor the World Cup champions. The team is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a celebratory breakfast. Following this, they will fly to Mumbai for an open bus victory parade and a felicitation ceremony at the iconic Wankhede Stadium.
India’s victory, their fourth overall World Cup title, was secured with a thrilling seven-run win over South Africa in the final. The triumph has rekindled the nation’s passion for cricket and brought immense pride to millions of fans. As the celebrations continue, the legacy of this team’s achievement will be remembered for years to come.
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