Exuberant followers adopted their cricketing heroes regardless of monsoon showers and heavy safety deployment because the T20 World Cup-winning Indian crew returned to a euphoric reception that included each component of a vigorous occasion, right here on Thursday. Lots of of supporters, holding placards congratulating their favourites and waving the nationwide flag, braved the inclement climate to attend outdoors the airport for the victorious facet, which defeated South Africa by seven runs within the remaining in Bridgetown on Saturday final week.

“We’ve got waited for this second for the previous 13 years. The crew has made us proud by successful the World Cup,” a fan, who claimed to have been ready since 4:30am within the morning mentioned, referring to India’s final World Cup triumph which got here again in 2011.

The facet was unable to go again residence instantly after the title win attributable to a shutdown pressured by hurricane Beryl in Barbados. They have been cocooned of their lodge earlier than the BCCI secretary Jay Shah made preparations for a particular constitution flight.

The Air India particular constitution flight AIC24WC — Air India Champions 24 World Cup — which left Barbados round 4:50am native time on Wednesday arrived in Delhi at 6am (IST) on Thursday after a 16-hour continuous journey.

Heavy safety was deployed to maintain the gang in examine on the Indira Gandhi Worldwide airport however that did little to dampen the spirits as followers cheered enthusiastically holding up posters of star batter Virat Kohli, skipper Rohit Sharma and outgoing head coach Rahul Dravid.

Two buses have been stationed outdoors the T3 Terminal to ferry the gamers to ITC Maurya Sheraton, the place they have been greeted by dhol and conventional Bhangra dancers.

Most of them, together with skipper Rohit Sharma, all-rounder Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav and Rishabh Pant, shook a leg with the assembled dancers, giving them a reminiscence of a lifetime.

Jubilation within the air

The #T20WorldCup Champions have arrived in New Delhi!

Presenting uncooked feelings of Captain @ImRo45 -led #TeamIndia‘s arrival crammed with celebrations pic.twitter.com/EYrpJehjzj

— BCCI (@BCCI) July 4, 2024

Even the on-duty safety personnel had smiles on their faces because the gamers let their hair down after the lengthy journey, shook fingers with everybody who needed to and moved into their rooms after slicing a cake that was saved prepared for them.

All of this unfolded amid anticipated media frenzy. A short whereas later, they left to fulfill Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence, persevering with a busy schedule that awaits them by way of the day.

Earlier, on the airport, the gamers trickled out in ones and twos after finishing immigration formalities.

Drained however excited, they acknowledged the ready followers by waving at them and flashing heat smiles.

Suryakumar, who took the sensational match-winning catch of David Miller within the remaining, was probably the most animated in responding to the cheering.

Pant, who returned to worldwide cricket on the just-concluded occasion after a life-threatening automotive accident, saluted the gathered crowd, whereas pacer Mohammed Siraj blew flying kisses of their route.

Rohit and Participant of the Closing Kohli, each of whom retired from T20Is on the finish of India’s marketing campaign, have been among the many final to come back out of the VIP exit.

Rohit raised the coveted trophy for the followers to catch a glimpse earlier than boarding the bus. Kohli, on his half, gave a thumbs as much as acknowledge the help.

Of their pleasure to see their heroes in particular person, some followers claimed that they’d been ready outdoors the airport since final evening.

“We’ve got been right here since final evening. It was essential for us to win this World Cup after shedding the ODI World Cup final yr,” a gaggle of followers mentioned.

The squad received the nation its second T20 world title, ending an 11-year look ahead to an ICC trophy, on Saturday. India’s earlier ICC title was in 2013 when it received the Champions Trophy below Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

Its earlier World Cup titles got here in 1983 (ODI), 2007 (T20) and 2011 (ODI).

After assembly the Prime Minister, the gamers will fly to Mumbai to take part in an open bus victory parade adopted by a felicitation ceremony on the Wankhede Stadium.

BCCI secretary Jay Shah and Rohit had posted on social media on Wednesday, urging followers to show up in giant numbers to indicate their help for the facet.

It will be a particular second for the 37-year-old Rohit, who’s a Mumbaikar and an enormous fan favorite within the metropolis.

The same highway present was held in Mumbai 17 years in the past when Dhoni’s crew had overwhelmed arch-rivals Pakistan within the remaining of the inaugural 2007 World T20 in South Africa.