The 2024 T20 World Cup gala with the Indian team arrived at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s doorstep on Thursday. The Indian team, after landing in New Delhi at around 6 am, freshened up at the ITC Maurya Hotel before taking the team bus to PM Modi’s residence. The team led by Rohit Sharma gave a brief dance performance at the hotel after a grand reception. Shortly afterwards, the players, led by captain Rohit, cut a special cake at the hotel before leaving to meet the Prime Minister.
At around 1 pm, the Indian left PM Modi’s residence for Delhi airport, from where he will fly to Mumbai for the next round of celebrations.
#TO ATTEND | Indian cricket team meets Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg.
Team India arrived at Delhi airport this morning after winning the T20 World Cup in Barbados on June 29. pic.twitter.com/840otjWkic
-ANI (@ANI) July 4, 2024
Notably, the Prime Minister congratulated the Men in Blue on the World Cup over the phone after last Saturday’s final. According to the schedule, the Indian team’s breakfast was planned with PM Modi.
The players reportedly have a flight to catch at 2pm that will take them to Mumbai, where an open-top bus parade has been planned. BCCI secretary Jay Shah and Rohit posted on social media on Wednesday urging fans to turn out in large numbers to show their support for the team.
It would be a special moment for 37-year-old Rohit, who is a Mumbaikar and a huge fan favorite in the city.
A similar road show was held in Mumbai 17 years ago when Dhoni’s team defeated arch-rivals Pakistan in the final of the first T20 World Cup in 2007 in South Africa.
Tired but excited, they greeted the waiting fans by waving to them and giving them warm smiles.
Suryakumar, who claimed David Miller’s sensational victory in the final, was the most animated as he responded to the applause.
Pant, who returned to international cricket at the recently concluded event after a life-threatening car accident, greeted the assembled crowd, while pacer Mohammed Siraj blew flying kisses his way.
Rohit and Player of the Final Kohli, both retired from T20Is at the end of India’s campaign, were among the last to leave the VIP exit.
Rohit held up the coveted trophy for fans to take a look at before they boarded the bus. Kohli, in turn, gave a thumbs up to acknowledge the support.
In the excitement of seeing their heroes in person, some fans claimed they had been waiting outside the airport since last night.
“We have been here since last night. It was very important for us to win this World Cup after losing the ODI World Cup last year,” said a group of fans.
The team won the country its second T20 world title, ending an 11-year wait for an ICC trophy, on Saturday. India’s previous ICC title was in 2013 when they won the Champions Trophy under Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
With PTI inputs
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