Braving the rain and sacrificing sleep, many passionate fans gathered to give a rousing reception to the triumphant Indian team, which emerged victorious in the T20 World Cup last week.
They created the perfect platform for a day that saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulate the team, before heading to Mumbai for an open parade and event at the Wankhede Stadium.
For almost two and a half hours, passionate fans, waving banners and national flags, created a lively atmosphere outside the terminal, eagerly waiting to see the victorious team led by Rohit Sharma as they brought home a World Cup trophy after 13 long years. "Last night at 11:30 pm, I saw the news that the Indian team is coming to Delhi early Thursday morning. I started my car at 2 am from my residence in Karnal, took my son and wife with me and waited at Delhi airport from 4am," a middle-aged cricket fan told IANS.
Gurpal, a devoted cricket enthusiast for over thirty years, proudly carried the Indian team flag and adorned the jersey with a gleam of excitement in his eyes. "We have been waiting for this moment for a long time. We won the World Cup on June 29, but we were waiting for our champions to return home (delayed due to Hurricane Beryl).
"It is our absolute luck that the heartfelt prayers for the team to land in New Delhi have come true. Now that they have come here, we are very fortunate to have the opportunity to see them," he said. While the fans outside showed patience, as they eagerly awaited the team's appearance and subsequent boarding of the two buses en route to the ITC Maurya hotel, the reporters and cameramen positioned themselves firmly outside the VIP exit gate, prompted by their common goal of capturing the best. photographs and images of the victorious team's return home.
Word has spread that Air India's 16-hour non-stop special charter flight AIC24WC (Air India Champions 24 World Cup), carrying the Indian team, support staff, their families, BCCI officials and the traveling media contingent, has been the most sought after. flight on the Flight Radar24 app, which sums up fans' excitement for Rohit & Co.'s homecoming.
Around 6:10 a.m. word spread around the airport facility that the flight had landed and the team would be leaving soon. At 6:45 am, activity by police, airport and CISF officials near the VIP departure gate intensified, accompanied by chants of "India, India" from fans outside. Many people were seen camping in groups at nearby international arrivals buildings to witness the triumphant side, who were being officially welcomed by airport authorities and even participated in a ceremonial cake cutting.
First emerged talisman Virat Kohli, the Man of the Match in India's seven-run final victory over South Africa. As the chants of his name began, Kohli was quick to wave and give a thumbs up before taking his place in front of the bus.
Soon after, the players emerged one by one and two by two: Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Siraj, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Yashasvi Jaiswal and outgoing head coach Rahul Dravid greeting reporters, while Yuzvendra Chahal pointed to his medal. winner and then to the journalists. The moment captain Rohit Sharma appeared, triumphantly holding the trophy, chaos ensued. In an instant, the security personnel took out their mobile phones and captured the historic moment when Rohit effortlessly lifted the trophy with one hand, as echoes of "Rohit, Rohit" and "India, India" filled the air.
By the time 7:07 am arrived, the team buses began their journey towards the hotel. Fans crowded the bus on both sides, their eyes searching to see the players and members of the support staff. Both sides of the team buses were filled with multitudes of flashlights from fans' phones, hand-held or mounted on tripods, creating a bustling swarm of light.
The atmosphere was electrifying, with fans collectively applauding as Siraj proudly displayed his winner's medal from the window and Rohit triumphantly lifted the trophy from the bus. The cricket fan from Karnal later said that his long wait to watch the Indian team was fruitful. "I saw Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and all the other members of the Indian team. My heart is delighted." Gurpal's eyes filled with tears of joy as he saw Rohit, Kohli, Siraj, Dravid and Rishabh Pant returning home with The throphy. He remembers believing that India was destined to win the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup title.
"I used to feel that even though we missed out on winning the 2023 ODI World Cup final, it might be in Dravid's destiny to win the T20 World Cup trophy in the West Indies where he couldn't sign with the title as a Player Also, I thought Virat Kohli should get the T20 World Cup trophy before getting any other title and looking at fate, it finally happened like this.
Three women CISF officers enthusiastically glimpsed Kohli, Siraj and Chahal. "We're used to seeing players coming and going through airport terminals, but this one feels very different because we won the World Cup and we loved seeing them." After the team bus left, the fans danced, They sang and took selfies until the rain drove them into the parking lot for cover. Some were still processing the fact that they had the opportunity to witness the players and the trophy firsthand, an experience that had eluded the nation for the past 13 years.
As fans dispersed to their homes or workplaces, they carried with them the firm belief that this was just the beginning of India's many World Cup triumphs. They eagerly await future opportunities to celebrate, be merry and welcome their beloved players at the airport.
"We came just to have a look at the trophy, and the way Rohit Sharma held it was a priceless moment, as was Mohammed Siraj's reaction, and this is what we came to the airport for."We wanted to welcome the team in such a great way that they too felt that the 140 million Indian fans deserved to celebrate the return of the trophy. Thank you very much Team India, keep winning trophies like this and our support will always remain. with you," said another cricket fan at the airport.
They created the perfect platform for a day that saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulate the team, before heading to Mumbai for an open parade and event at the Wankhede Stadium.
For almost two and a half hours, passionate fans, waving banners and national flags, created a lively atmosphere outside the terminal, eagerly waiting to see the victorious team led by Rohit Sharma as they brought home a World Cup trophy after 13 long years. "Last night at 11:30 pm, I saw the news that the Indian team is coming to Delhi early Thursday morning. I started my car at 2 am from my residence in Karnal, took my son and wife with me and waited at Delhi airport from 4am," a middle-aged cricket fan told IANS.
Gurpal, a devoted cricket enthusiast for over thirty years, proudly carried the Indian team flag and adorned the jersey with a gleam of excitement in his eyes. "We have been waiting for this moment for a long time. We won the World Cup on June 29, but we were waiting for our champions to return home (delayed due to Hurricane Beryl).
"It is our absolute luck that the heartfelt prayers for the team to land in New Delhi have come true. Now that they have come here, we are very fortunate to have the opportunity to see them," he said. While the fans outside showed patience, as they eagerly awaited the team's appearance and subsequent boarding of the two buses en route to the ITC Maurya hotel, the reporters and cameramen positioned themselves firmly outside the VIP exit gate, prompted by their common goal of capturing the best. photographs and images of the victorious team's return home.
Word has spread that Air India's 16-hour non-stop special charter flight AIC24WC (Air India Champions 24 World Cup), carrying the Indian team, support staff, their families, BCCI officials and the traveling media contingent, has been the most sought after. flight on the Flight Radar24 app, which sums up fans' excitement for Rohit & Co.'s homecoming.
Around 6:10 a.m. word spread around the airport facility that the flight had landed and the team would be leaving soon. At 6:45 am, activity by police, airport and CISF officials near the VIP departure gate intensified, accompanied by chants of "India, India" from fans outside. Many people were seen camping in groups at nearby international arrivals buildings to witness the triumphant side, who were being officially welcomed by airport authorities and even participated in a ceremonial cake cutting.
First emerged talisman Virat Kohli, the Man of the Match in India's seven-run final victory over South Africa. As the chants of his name began, Kohli was quick to wave and give a thumbs up before taking his place in front of the bus.
Soon after, the players emerged one by one and two by two: Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Siraj, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Yashasvi Jaiswal and outgoing head coach Rahul Dravid greeting reporters, while Yuzvendra Chahal pointed to his medal. winner and then to the journalists. The moment captain Rohit Sharma appeared, triumphantly holding the trophy, chaos ensued. In an instant, the security personnel took out their mobile phones and captured the historic moment when Rohit effortlessly lifted the trophy with one hand, as echoes of "Rohit, Rohit" and "India, India" filled the air.
By the time 7:07 am arrived, the team buses began their journey towards the hotel. Fans crowded the bus on both sides, their eyes searching to see the players and members of the support staff. Both sides of the team buses were filled with multitudes of flashlights from fans' phones, hand-held or mounted on tripods, creating a bustling swarm of light.
The atmosphere was electrifying, with fans collectively applauding as Siraj proudly displayed his winner's medal from the window and Rohit triumphantly lifted the trophy from the bus. The cricket fan from Karnal later said that his long wait to watch the Indian team was fruitful. "I saw Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and all the other members of the Indian team. My heart is delighted." Gurpal's eyes filled with tears of joy as he saw Rohit, Kohli, Siraj, Dravid and Rishabh Pant returning home with The throphy. He remembers believing that India was destined to win the 2024 Men's T20 World Cup title.
"I used to feel that even though we missed out on winning the 2023 ODI World Cup final, it might be in Dravid's destiny to win the T20 World Cup trophy in the West Indies where he couldn't sign with the title as a Player Also, I thought Virat Kohli should get the T20 World Cup trophy before getting any other title and looking at fate, it finally happened like this.
Three women CISF officers enthusiastically glimpsed Kohli, Siraj and Chahal. "We're used to seeing players coming and going through airport terminals, but this one feels very different because we won the World Cup and we loved seeing them." After the team bus left, the fans danced, They sang and took selfies until the rain drove them into the parking lot for cover. Some were still processing the fact that they had the opportunity to witness the players and the trophy firsthand, an experience that had eluded the nation for the past 13 years.
As fans dispersed to their homes or workplaces, they carried with them the firm belief that this was just the beginning of India's many World Cup triumphs. They eagerly await future opportunities to celebrate, be merry and welcome their beloved players at the airport.
"We came just to have a look at the trophy, and the way Rohit Sharma held it was a priceless moment, as was Mohammed Siraj's reaction, and this is what we came to the airport for."We wanted to welcome the team in such a great way that they too felt that the 140 million Indian fans deserved to celebrate the return of the trophy. Thank you very much Team India, keep winning trophies like this and our support will always remain. with you," said another cricket fan at the airport.
