When the Indian cricket team returned from their T20 World Cup victory, Modi and fans greeted them like heroes.
Having just won the inaugural T20 World Cup in Barbados, the Indian cricket team landed in Delhi early on Thursday. The triumph, their first one in 13 years, was a thrilling moment of glory as the fans thronged the Indira Gandhi International Airport and gave them a rousing welcome.
Lastly, after cracking the nerve-wracking 7-run victory against South Africa on 29 June, the Indian cricket team’s comeback was postponed by four days as the environment experienced Hurricane Beryl crashing into Barbados.
The Caribbean was subjected to devastating weather conditions making the triumphant group stuck there, further postponing the anticipated return of the millions of fans at home. Eventually, on Thursday, the “Men in Blue’ were brought on an exclusive.
Air India flight, AIC24WC (Air India Champions 24 World Cup), after a non-stop 16-hour trip. In spite of the uncomfortable atmosphere, the players welcomed a thrilling visit, where they were met by hundreds of fans who stood in the monsoon showers to greet them.
The celebration was not just confined to the airport. The next stop was ITC Maurya Sheraton Hotel, where the crew rested for a while and then were off to a breakfast meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his official residence, 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. The meeting was not just a formality but a pleasant celebration.
PM Modi, known for his love of sports, chatted with the cricketers, coaches, and BCCI officials. The Prime Minister praised the Indian cricket team for their excellent performance and spun the most critical moments that contributed to their victory.
Image Credit: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
During the event, Team India’s Captain Rohit Sharma and Coach Rahul Dravid gave PM Modi the T20 World Cup trophy to acknowledge the nation’s achievement. The Prime Minister was in the center in a group photo shared with the team by BCCI President Roger Binny and Secretary Jay Shah.
The happy moods of this meeting were highly different from last November when India lost to Australia in the ODI World Cup final. The defeat had led the team into sorrow, and the Prime Minister had to go to the locker room to comfort them. This time, however, the mood was purely one of rapture.
The players donned unique t-shirts to fulfill the occasion, featuring the sequential word ‘CHAMPIONS’ on the front side, and above the BCCI emblem, there were two stars, which represented their T20 World Cup victories. The players traveled from Delhi to Mumbai, where a big victory parade was to greet them.
The parade was there, from Marine Drive to Wankhede Stadium, with thousands of supporters along the way, encouraging the team regardless of the rain. The city’s enthusiasm was evident as dancing fans, cutting the cakes, and holding the slogans were seen all around.
The players, who had experienced different emotions (from high to low), were deeply touched by how people united to show their support. They not only met the fans and signed the cards, but they also participated in the celebrations.
They managed to forget their tiredness, overwhelmed by the love of the public. Prime Minister Modi later posted on social media, saying, “7, Lok Kalyan Marg was the place to go to meet our returning hero, the World Cup champions. We discussed their experiences through the course,” along with a photo of the team with the Prime Minister, showing the pride and joy at the event.
Image Credit: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
The presentation of their gratefulness was done on their own social networks. Virat Kohli, who was given the title of the Player of the Final for his 59 out of 76 runs in 76 balls, conveyed how he felt on Instagram digital by posting the following: “What a great honor, meeting our honorable Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji.
Thank you, sir, for inviting us to the Prime Minister’s residence.” Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, and Arshdeep Singh were also among those who were enthusiastic about presenting their experiences, i.e., the bond between them and the nation, to the public.
The day culminated in a grand felicitation ceremony at Wankhede Stadium, attended by thousands of fans. The event was an excellent end to a day of national pride and joy as India celebrated its cricketing heroes and their historic achievements.
References:
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/multimedia/video/pm-modi-hosts-t20-world-cup-winning-indian-cricket-team/article68370254.ece
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/icc-mens-t20-world-cup/pm-modi-hosts-t20-world-cup-winning-champions-enjoys-memorable-conversation/articleshow/111503720.cms
https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/sports/men-in-blue-get-a-rousing-welcome-to-their-home-soil-after-a-historic-t20-world-cup-victory/article68367565.ece
https://www.thequint.com/sports/cricket/pm-narendra-modi-hosts-indian-cricket-team-t20-world-cup-2024-champions#read-more
