New Delhi, July 4: A special cake representing the World Cup Trophy has been prepared for the Indian cricket team to cut upon their arrival at the ITC Maurya Hotel.
Delhi witnessed a historic moment on Thursday as numerous cricket enthusiasts gathered at the airport in the early hours to catch a glimpse of the 2024 T20 World Champions, who returned home after being stranded in Barbados due to a cyclone.
The Rohit Sharma-led side received a grand welcome, befitting their status as undisputed champions. Escorted by police and CISF officials, the players waved and smiled at their fans, who eagerly snapped photos and took selfies with their favourite stars.
After their arrival, the team proceeded to their hotel before heading to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Following the meeting, they will return to the airport to board a special flight to Mumbai.
Upon reaching Mumbai airport, the team will move to Wankhede Stadium. The BCCI has arranged a 1 km victory parade from Nariman Point to Wankhede, followed by a ceremony at the stadium.
At the iconic Wankhede venue, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, who was present in Barbados for the final against South Africa on Saturday, will distribute the ₹125 crore cash prize to the Indian team for winning their first ICC trophy in over a decade.
Initially, the Men in Blue were scheduled to depart Barbados for New York on Monday morning before taking a connecting flight from Dubai to India, a few days after winning the T20 World Cup for the second time. However, due to Hurricane Beryl sweeping through the Caribbean, the Indian cricketers were stranded on the island for three days. They were only able to fly out of Barbados in the early hours of Wednesday via a charter flight named AIC24WC — Air India Champions 24 World Cup.
