(ICC Photo)
On July 29, India celebrated the one-month anniversary of their victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup. The excitement of that triumph remains vivid for Indian cricket enthusiasts. A standout moment was Suryakumar Yadav’s spectacular catch, which played a pivotal role in securing the World Cup for India.
In a nail-biting finish, South Africa required 16 runs from the last six balls, with Hardik Pandya entrusted to bowl the final over. Pandya not only kept South Africa from reaching their target but also took two crucial wickets, dismissing David Miller and Kagiso Rabada. This was South Africa’s inaugural appearance in an ICC Final across any format.
After a long period of near misses and disappointments, India finally clinched an ICC title after 11 years. The journey through 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2023 had been marked by heartbreaking losses in knockout stages, but 2024 brought the long-awaited breakthrough.
The nation erupted in celebration following India’s World Cup victory, eagerly anticipating the return of the victorious team. However, Cyclone Beryl caused a two-day delay in their return.
Eventually, flight AIC24WC departed from Barbados bound for Delhi. During the 16-hour journey, the team reveled in their hard-earned triumph. The World Cup victory also marked the end of T20I careers for Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja.
After a grueling 16-hour flight from Barbados, the plane carrying the Indian cricket team finally touched down in Delhi around 6 a.m. on July 4. The players’ busy day began with a morning meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Later that evening, they were met with an enthusiastic crowd of blue-clad supporters at Marine Drive in Mumbai. The team participated in a roadshow, expressing their gratitude to the fans for their unwavering support throughout the tournament.
In the midst of the celebrations, a Star Sports producer traveling with the team made some intriguing revelations. He shed light on the team’s mood during their travels and shared an interesting tidbit about why Rahul Dravid chose to switch from business class to economy class.
Star Sports producer reveals details of Team India’s journey from Barbados to Delhi.
“On this flight, Barbados to Delhi, I think hardly anyone slept for more than six hours. That would have been the maximum. At no point was anyone quiet. Everyone was mingling around. Players came to meet the members of the press and a few others. Star Sports engineers were also part of the flight because theirs was canceled and they were also accommodated.”
“But there was a lot of interaction. Rohit Sharma came several times. I believe at one moment, Rahul Dravid came up to the economy section to figure out if there was a 4-seater because he wanted to sleep. He came there from the business class and slept there for some time,” the producer said.
He also mentioned witnessing Rohit Sharma seemingly reprimanding someone, only to realize it was all in jest. He reflected on how the Indian players engaged with the media throughout their journey, highlighting the camaraderie and humor that characterized their interactions.
“I remember I was sleeping and I could suddenly hear Rohit scolding somebody. I saw and he was standing right there. But Rohit, in his style was scolding jokingly. After that, Hardik came, Rishabh came and they were all having discussions with the media. So obviously, there was a lot of chatter” the producer concluded saying.
The flight took off from Barbados at 4 a.m. on July 3, but it wasn’t until the team arrived in India that they fully grasped the significance of their victory. A profound sense of relief washed over both the players and the fans. The elation was palpable, with Mumbai streets that night echoing with boundless joy and an outpouring of admiration for the players.
