The streets of Mumbai were filled with joy and excitement as the Indian cricket team celebrated their T20 World Cup victory over South Africa. The parade began at the NCPA and ended at the famous Wankhede Stadium, with fans lining the route despite the rain and traffic delays.
The team’s journey home was a challenging one. After facing Hurricane Beryl in Barbados, they landed in New Delhi on Thursday. From there, they flew on a special Air India flight called “Air India Champions 24 World Cup.” Captain Rohit Sharma shared a photo with the trophy, captioning it “Coming home.” This heartfelt moment set the stage for the celebrations.
In Mumbai, a huge crowd of 1.4 billion people welcomed the team at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The open-top bus parade was a sight to behold, with fans dressed in blue, waving flags, and cheering loudly. When the team arrived at Wankhede Stadium, the applause was deafening, showing the nation’s pride and love for their champions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi honoured the team upon their arrival, highlighting the nation’s shared joy. Amidst the celebrations, Hardik Pandya’s heartfelt message stood out: “India, you mean the world to me! From the bottom of my heart, thank you for all the love.. these are moments that I will never ever forget! Thank you for coming out to celebrate with us, despite the rains! We love you so much! Celebrating with you is why we do what we do! We’re all champions! All 1.4 billion of us! Thank you Mumbai, thank you India.”
The parade was more than a celebration of a cricket win; it was a display of unity and passion. These memories will be cherished by fans and players alike for years to come.