The sea looked bluer on the reclaimed-land side on Thursday evening. After their delayed departure from Barbados due to a hurricane, Rohit Sharma’s T20 World Cup winning Team India returned home to a different kind of storm with cricket-crazy Mumbaikars filling the stretch from Nariman Point to Wankhede stadium. Fans eagerly awaited the open-top bus carrying India’s cricket heroes, making it a grand spectacle. The excitement was palpable as the bus cut through the surging sea of admirers, each eager for a glimpse of the champions.
Hours before the team even landed in Mumbai from Delhi well past 5 pm, tens of thousands of cricket fans had flooded the route from the NCPA gates towards Wankhede. Despite the weather, fans disregarded the showers, eagerly awaiting the arrival of their beloved team.
Captain Rohit Sharma, along with Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, Suryakumar Yadav, and other teammates, proudly held the trophy high as they waved to the delirious masses. The air was electric with chants of ‘Mumbaicha Raja, Rohit Sharma’ and ‘Boom Boom Bumrah’. The frenzy in the crowd was evident as the parade inched forward, leaving behind a scattering of shoes in its wake, evidence of the excitement of the moment.
After the bus reached Wankhede, the team did a lap of honor amid resounding applause. The BCCI office-bearers felicitated the team and presented a cheque of Rs 125 crore. “The huge turnout of fans shows they were as desperate for this T20 World Cup title as we were,” said Rohit.
The atmosphere was jubilant as fans showed their unwavering support for the team. Despite the weather fluctuations, fans stood patiently for over four hours and soaked in the celebration, chanting ‘India! India!’ at full pelt.
‘We are ready to take a bullet for our Men in Blue’
A gang of 20 friends, all clad in their own version of a Team India jersey, made the long journey from the western suburbs of Kandivli to the city’s southernmost tip. As the train doors opened, they poured out onto the platform, waving the tricolor and blaring vuvuzelas in excitement.
Among the fans was Rajendra Damle, who expressed, “It’s hard to explain the feeling. It’s just pure joy. They’ve won, but it feels like we’ve won. We’re a part of this and want to celebrate with them.” The camaraderie among the fans was evident as they joined the throngs along Marine Drive, ready to celebrate their heroes’ victory as if it were their own.
High schoolers from Goregaon, Aditya, Agastya, Sanchay, and Jainit, were buzzing with excitement over Surya Kumar Yadav’s catch in the final. They expressed their enthusiasm for the win and their unwavering support for the Men in Blue.
