Indian Team’s Triumphant Homecoming in Mumbai: Massive Crowds, Rain, and Celebrations of T20 World Cup

On Thursday night, Wankhede Stadium was packed, and thousands of people flocked to Mumbai’s Marine Drive to watch the Indian team’s open-top bus parade and celebration of winning the T20 World Cup.

However, the team’s bus parade in South Mumbai was further delayed due to the large crowds, which created logistical issues, and their delayed arrival in Mumbai from Delhi. The parade eventually started two hours later than planned, but the supporters were unfazed by the rain or the pandemonium of the congested roads.

“The two-hour open-bus parade, which was delayed by two hours, started from the National Centre for Performing Arts (NCPA) in Nariman Point at 7.30pm and went till the Wankhede Stadium,” according to PTI. “Normally, it takes five minutes to travel the distance, but because the guys were enjoying the evening, it took almost an hour.

“The team arrived in the city just after 5:00 p.m. local time. An open-bus procession was slated to take place from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., according to the timetable that the officials released. But it was discovered that the team could only depart New Delhi at 3:42 p.m. A typical flight from Delhi to Mumbai takes 2 hours and 10 minutes.

The squad took a charter flight from Bridgetown, Barbados, and landed in Delhi around 6 a.m. Due to Hurricane Beryl forcing the closure of airports, they were compelled to stay in the West Indies longer than planned. The crew was given a hotel room upon their arrival in Delhi, and they had brunch with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi later that day.

The evening was set aside to get together and celebrate with supporters, but there was a significant wait before any festivities could begin due to the thousands of people swarming the stadium’s entrance and the logistical challenges posed by Mumbai’s evening showers. When the stadium reached capacity and the gates of the Wankhede were eventually locked, there were strong downpours that came on and off.

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PTI reported: “Those who managed to find a spot inside Wankhede stayed rooted to their chairs, despite the lack of food and water, while the gates closed in the face of intense humidity, intermittent rain, and the commotion of several thousand people coming in the area.

“Several pairs of shoes were lost in the rush as supporters dashed in all directions in the stands during a strong downpour.

“While the wait [went on], rain kept pelting down with breaks but it could not force the fans off their seats in the stadium.”

When the team finally made it to the stadium at around 9.30 p.m., coach Rahul Dravid, skipper Rohit Sharma, and players Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah gave speeches. A lap of honor was also held.

India defeated South Africa by seven runs in a thrilling match on Saturday in Bridgetown to win their first World Cup, ODI or T20, in thirteen years. Since then, Dravid’s final World Cup assignment with the side has been confirmed, along with the withdrawals of Rohit, Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja from T20I cricket.

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