NEW DELHI: Tens of thousands of jubilant fans poured onto Mumbai’s Marine Drive to cheer India’s new world cricket champions when they returned home on Thursday.
India beat South Africa in a tight finish in the Twenty20 World Cup final last weekend in Barbados for their first world cricket title in 13 years.
Skipper Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya held the coveted trophy in an open bus convoy to Wankhede stadium, where they were to participate in celebrations organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India.
Fans danced, waved the India flag, and flashed smartphone lights after waiting for hours to glimpse Sharma, Virat Kohli and the other cricket stars.
The victorious squad landed in New Delhi early Thursday on a charter flight from Barbados. They met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence and later left for Mumbai.
Hundreds of supporters were gathered at New Delhi International Airport, many of them chanting “India, India” as the players came out and boarded a bus.
There were hundreds more waiting at the hotel to continue the celebrations, which started on Saturday as soon as the final was won. Some of the players danced to drum beats when they reached their hotel.
The team’s return from the Caribbean was delayed because of a shutdown in Barbados forced by Hurricane Beryl.
“It’s a lifetime experience,” cricket official Arun Dhumal said.
The T20 triumph was India’s first World Cup title since 2011, when it won the 50-over version.
The BCCI has announced a cash bonus of 1.25 billion rupees ($15 million) for the winning squad.
Soon after winning the title, Sharma, Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja announced their retirement from T20 internationals.
India cricketers feted in victory parade in Mumbai after winning Twenty20 World Cup
https://arab.news/8hxgw
India cricketers feted in victory parade in Mumbai after winning Twenty20 World Cup
- India defeated South Africa in a tight finish last weekend in Barbados for their first world cricket title in 13 years
- Fans danced, waved India flag, and flashed phone lights after waiting for hours to glimpse Sharma, Kohli and others
Pakistan to participate in T20 World Cup but won’t play against India on Feb. 15
- Controversy over Pakistan’s participation erupted after ICC rejected Bangladesh’s request to relocate their matches to Sri Lanka
- Pakistan are scheduled to play all their Group A matches in Sri Lanka and open their campaign against the Netherlands on Feb. 7
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will take part in the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup but won’t play their scheduled group stage match against arch-rival India on Feb. 15, the Pakistani government said on Sunday.
The tournament will be played from Feb. 7 to Mar. 8 and co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with matches being played across both countries and the final scheduled in Ahmedabad.
The controversy over Pakistan’s participation erupted after the ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland, following Bangladesh’s decision to not play matches in India owing to security fears.
Last week, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi had hinted at an outright boycott of the event in protest over the ICC’s decision to reject Bangladesh’s demands to relocate their matches from India to Sri Lanka.
“The Government of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan grants approval to the Pakistan Cricket Team to participate in the ICC World T20 2026,” read a post on the Pakistani government’s official X account.
“However, the Pakistan Cricket Team shall not take the field in the match scheduled on 15th February 2026 against India.”
Pakistan’s refusal to play against India, who they have already played at neutral venues in Sri Lanka, is likely to have severe financial implications.
Both sides have not played bilateral cricket since 2012 and only face each other in multi-nation events. Under a deal signed last year, India and Pakistan agreed not to travel to each other’s countries in cases where either hosts an ICC event, instead playing at neutral venues.
Pakistan are scheduled to play all their Group A matches in Sri Lanka. The ‘Men in Green’ will open their campaign against the Netherlands on Feb. 7.
